Herbalist’s Wife Arrested After Pouring Hot Water on Co-Wife

Herbalist’s Wife Arrested After Pouring Hot Water on Co-Wife

WODAH VILLAGE, CROSS RIVER STATE — A domestic violence incident in a polygamous home has left a young woman with severe burns and her attacker in police custody. Blessing, the first wife of a local herbalist known as Dr. Respect Ogar, allegedly poured a pot of boiling water on her co-wife, Mary, over the weekend in Wodah village, Yala Local Government Area of Northern Cross River State. The attack, which occurred on Saturday morning, has reignited public discourse around bride price disputes, traditional marriage rites, and polygamy-related tensions in rural Nigeria.

According to multiple village sources, the conflict between the two wives was not sudden. It had been brewing for years, rooted in a glaring imbalance in how their husband conducted his customary marriages. Blessing, the first wife, has lived with the herbalist for many years and borne him five male children. Yet, despite her long-standing role and fertility, Dr. Respect Ogar never paid her bride price nor performed formal traditional marriage rites for her. In stark contrast, the second wife, Mary, who has no child for the herbalist, received full marriage rites, including bride price payment and traditional ceremonies. The husband also reportedly bought Mary a plot of land and rented an apartment for her in town—privileges Blessing never enjoyed.

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A community source named Ochuole told reporters that Mary frequently mocked Blessing over her marital status. She often tells her senior mate that the husband bought her a plot of land and rented an apartment for her in town, while the first wife has nothing. All these made Blessing angry, and when Mary again began to taunt her on Saturday morning, she poured hot water on her. The persistent humiliation allegedly reached a breaking point on Saturday. After another round of taunting, Blessing fetched a pot of boiling water and poured it on Mary, causing severe burns to her chest and stomach.

Mary was first rushed to Life First Clinic in Abachor for emergency treatment. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was later transferred to Ogoja General Hospital. Medical sources confirm that her condition requires advanced care, and arrangements have been made to move her to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) in Calabar for specialized burn treatment. Meanwhile, Blessing was initially arrested and taken to the Okuku Police Station. However, following threats of retaliation from Mary’s family, law enforcement officials transferred her to the Divisional Police Station in Okpoma for her own safety, where she remains in custody as investigations continue.

This incident is not isolated. Recent reports from the Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs indicate that violence against women remains rampant across the state. In March 2026, a 26-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend in the same region over infidelity accusations. The Ogoja case highlights how customary marriage practices — especially disparities in bride price payment — can fuel jealousy, resentment, and violent outbursts in polygamous settings. As Mary recovers in hospital, legal experts say Blessing could face grievous bodily harm charges under Nigerian criminal law. Meanwhile, human rights advocates are calling on the Cross River State Government and the Ministry of Women Affairs to mediate bride price-related disputes before they escalate into violence.

Herbalist’s Wife Arrested After Pouring Hot Water on Co-Wife