Man beats ex-wife, mother-in-law to stupor over school cultural day attire in Delta

…Traumatized ex-wife alleges threat to life

By Ovasa Ogaga,

A middle-aged man, one Mr. Thaddeus Otarurhor, indigene and resident of Adagbrassa-Ogolo, in Okpe Local Government Area, has allegedly beaten his ex-wife and mother-in-law to a pulp over school cultural attire bought for their children.

The incident which has since thrown the two families on a warpath occurred on March 14, 2022, and for the timely intervention of good Samaritans who came to rescue the victims, they would have been dead.

Otarurhor who is said to be short-tempered with a history of allegedly beating up his ex-wife and mother-in-law, with little or no provocation which lead to the crash of their marriage in 2019, again descended on the defenceless women for daring to bring clothes for the children’s school cultural day.

Advocate.ng gathered that trouble started when the children under the custody of the Otarurhor called to inform their mother of their upcoming cultural day celebration at school.

According to the mother who is now Miss Hope Epini, had earlier objected to buying the clothes for the children, but on second thought and following the kids persisted begging their mother to help them out so they won’t look different from their peers at school.

Knowing the disgusting attitude of her ex-husband and his abysmal unprovoked anger, she decided to hang around and wait for the kids in her mother’s house to give them the money, clothes and beads.

While waiting for the kids, she alleged that her ex-husband came to her family compound to drop a note of warning, telling her not to go near the compound where the ex-husband is living. He allegedly threatened that if he sees her or the mother anywhere near the building, both of them may not live to tell their story.

She further alleged that Otarurhor who is a graduate of  Delta State University Abraka, also called her and her mother some unprintable names and provoked by his actions, she defiled his warning as the house which the estranged ex-husband currently lives belong to her and the land as well belong to her father.

Continuing, she stated that as soon as she got to the compound, the said Otarurhor who was miffed with the purported violation of his orders immediately pounced on her and her mother and in the process punched her mother who fell to the ground and injuring her in the ear.

According to her, “I only allowed him to live in the house because of my children. I built the house and the land in which the house is built is my father’s property”.

“I have suffered several beating from in his hand and it was as a result of the incessant beating and maltreatment that the court dissolves our marriage.”

She also alleged that the court also in that judgment affirmed that she should be allowed access to the children and also to her property, “my ex-husband has violated the grounds of the court ruling because he has an elder brother who is a lecturer and a Pastor that is supporting all his misdeed, hence he continues to terrorize me and my family.”

She called on the appropriate authority and particularly gender-based group to assist her to recover back her property which the alleged ex-husband is claiming is his dowry money, a dowry, which her family has returned to him at the court since 2019.

He accused the ex-husband of calling her so many unprintable names including assaulting her and her mother and as well sending her life-threatening terse messages.

“He chased me from Osubi and presently I cannot visit my own community for fear of him attacking me. He should live me alone and live my house for me”.

On her part, the mother-in-law, Madam Epini, who was assaulted, while narrating her ordeal said that she was admitted at the General Hospital Orerokpe following the beating, where she was treated.

She alleged that since the marriage of her daughter and the said Otarurhor hit the rock, he has deprived her daughter access to her own, her house and father’s properties including her plantain farm behind the compound, oranges and other plants in the compound.

Meanwhile, Mr Thaddeus Otarurhor, denied the allegation of battering levelled against him, noting that he is a peaceful man, he, however, regretted not avoiding the situation that led to this current crisis.

Though the assault case was said to be reported at the Orerokpe Police Division where the suspect and the victims were both arrested, as at the time of filing this report, both sides have been granted bail.