Two housewives, identified only as Muyibat and Biliki, have suffered
severe burns after a fight over a man.
Punch Metro learnt that the two women emptied a kettle of hot water on
each other during the brawl which occurred at their residence in the Yaba
area of Lagos State.
Biliki, who was living with her husband in the Surulere area of the state,
relocated to her parents’ house in Abule Oja, Yaba, in 2015, after
separating from the husband.
Muyibat lives with her husband and three children in the house.
Punch correspondent was told that 32-year-old Biliki accused Muyibat,
29, of marrying her former boyfriend, which caused bad blood between
them.
Matters, however, came to a head after a disagreement on Saturday when
the duo poured hot water on each other. They were both admitted to a
general hospital in the state.
Punch correspondent gathered that the case was reported at the Sabo
Police Division and one of the parties petitioned the Lagos State Office
of the Public Defender, which mediated in the matter.
Muyibat told Punch Metro that their problem started after Biliki accused
her of marrying her (Biliki’s) boyfriend.
She said, “Biliki told neighbours that she once dated my husband and
that she aborted for him during their relationship.
“She calls me Iyawo Sara (free wife). I have never known peace in that
house. She fights me over every minor issue. “On Saturday, I went to the
market with my husband and when we got home, my child started crying.
“Biliki’s younger brother, Ahmed, came out and shouted at him and I
cautioned him.
“His sister then picked up a quarrel with me and started raining curses on
me. I did not talk because I was observing a fast. While she was abusing
me, I sneezed and said, ‘Ausubillahi minashaitani rojeem’ (God, deliver
me from the devil).”
Muyibat said Biliki, who is also a Muslim, thought she was referring to
her and queried her for calling her a devil. She alleged that Biliki
attacked her in the process.
“I removed the water I was boiling for my vegetables and put it on the
table. She (Biliki) held my head from behind and poured the hot water on
me.
“Her younger brother slammed a plastic paint on my head, while she
drew my hair. Both of them assaulted me,” Muyibat added. The Kwara
State indigene said she was rushed to a private hospital where she was
rejected, adding that she later went to the Sabo Police Station to report
the case.
Muyibat, who claimed to have passed out on the way to the general
hospital, said Biliki had earlier in May threatened to pour acid on her.
However, Biliki, who suffered burns on her breasts, chest and hand,
denied the allegations, saying her neighbour was the first to attack her.
She denied ever dating Muyibat’s husband, saying Muyibat was fond of
making trouble with her and efforts to reconcile them had always been
rebuffed by her.
She said, “I went back to my parents’ house when I had issues with my
husband. Because of that, many of the tenants started ridiculing me.
“I was ill that Saturday and was sleeping beside my baby. Her child had
come to play with my baby when she called him back. When the child
didn’t heed her call, she hit him and the child started crying.
“Another child passing through the passageway was also crying that
partcular time. My younger brother asked the other boy to stop crying
and Muyibat abused my brother. “My brother reported her to me and I
told him not to reply her. She then started insulting me. We fought and
our neighbours came to separate us.
“I was backing her when somebody suddenly shouted, ‘hot water!’ As I
turned back with my hands raised, she emptied a kettle of hot water on
me. Because my hand was raised when she attacked me, a little of the
water splashed on her.”
Biliki said Muyibat also bit her brother while the latter came to separate
them, adding that her two phones were smashed by.
The Director of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, Mrs.
Olubukola Salami, described the incident as horrific.
She said, “This horrific incident was totally avoidable as either of the
parties could have just walked away and lodge a formal complaint at the
nearest police station. But they decided to take the law into their hands
and the result was unfortunate.
“Domestic violence has repercussions and it’s totally unacceptable
anywhere. The Lagos State Government will deal harshly with those who
disturb public peace.
Punch
