– Abia First Lady Condemns Gruesome Attack on Woman by Husband
The First Lady of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has expressed deep sadness over the gruesome attack on a woman by her husband, Lawrence Uzor, who gouged out her eyes allegedly for ritual purposes in Umuahia.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning when the husband used a knife to remove his wife’s eyes while she was asleep. The couple’s landlady, Madam Lovejane Nwaiwu, who witnessed the attack, said, “About 10 pm on Saturday, I heard the man shouting ‘Odogwu, Odogwu (mighty, mighty)’. I was worried as I had not heard the man and his wife, Amarachi Lawrence praying like that.”
Speaking at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Umuahia where the victims are being treated, Mrs. Otti said, “This is a terrible case of violence, attempted murder. I am deeply saddened by this case, just a few days after signing the compact agreement with the UNFPA on gender-based violence.”
She assured that the state government would tackle such cases, stating, “I will ensure further GBV responses front desk and team would take proper actions.” Mrs. Otti also donated cash for the treatment and upkeep of the victims.
The Medical Director of FMC, Umuahia, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, represented by his Director, Medical Services, Mrs. Aisha Onyemaobi, said, “Reports indicated that the main victim, 38-year-old Lawrence, was deeply asleep when the husband woke her up and started cutting her.”
The Umueze Ibeku community chairman, Tutus Jonah, lamented, “It was just like a film that faithful morning. We heard that he has been released.” The victim’s sister, Ijeoma Okpokiri, and her cousin, Chioma Okpokiri, pleaded with the authorities to look into the matter and help their sister recover.
