Domestic violence in Nigeria is a problem as in many parts of Africa. There is a deep cultural belief in Nigeria that it is socially acceptable to hit a woman to discipline a spouse. However, over the weekend it was a man who was malevolently on the receiving end of this type of violence.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020, is a day 42-year-old old Aliyu Umaru will not forget in a hurry. It was the day Halima, the first wife of Umaru, severed his manhood with a knife.
He groaned in pain as he lay on a bed at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe State, where he was referred to after the incident occurred in Taraba State. Umaru said, “I’m a veterinary medicine dealer. I trade in animal drugs. I’m 42 years old with two wives and two children. The first wife had a male child and a female from the second. The first wife Halima is pregnant. I stay in Tella under Gasso LGA of Taraba State. I was transferred from the Federal Medical Centre, Taraba to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.”
When the Punch correspondent visited the hospital, the victim cut a pitiable sight and a urethra catheter fixed to his body to pass urine as his detached manhood was kept in nylon for safekeeping.
Umaru narrated the incident in a sadness-coated voice, “After I returned from work, I got water to take my bath and ate the food prepared by my wife before I slept. I was later awoken by a sharp pain and I screamed.
“My wife chopped off my ‘bura’ (penis). It was then neighbors were alerted. I can’t say if my food or water was laced with anything with the way I slept deeply. My wife has finished my life and it is unfortunate.” Reports noted that Halima had been having issues with her husband and the younger wife before the incident.
According to the victim’s younger brother, 40-year-old Usman, the act may not be unconnected with their mum’s plea that they should relocate which Halima didn’t support.
Head of Department Accident and Emergency, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Dr. Nuhu Musa, noted that the patient would get adequate medical attention. Describing his department as the entry point for first-time patients, he added that the patient had been stabilized. Nuhu stated, “A specialist has reviewed the patient and we have discussed. The patient will be moved to the theatre for an operation. He is stable and being properly administered with intravenous fluid as well as other emergency drugs before the specialist came to see him. They were booked for emergency case surgery which was conducted last week.
