A lady in Ebonyi State, Michael Ozioma Helen, has called off her forthcoming wedding due to alleged domestic abuse by her fiance.
She explained why she took the decision 72 hours to her wedding day.
She accused her fiance of physically abusing her repeatedly.
Helen expressed disappointment over the behaviours of her fiance, who was her secondary school mate.
She a claimed the maltreatment started immediately after the fiance, David Okike paid her bride price.
According to her: “This was my secondary school classmate who I thought I knew to an extent. On December 28, 2020 he did the 1st and 2nd stage in my family marriage list which bride price happened to be on the 2nd stage which he paid. After he paid my bride price he started maltreating me.
“2021 was hell for me that at some point I left home, after everything we settled around November 2021 which he promised he will never beat me again. But still, nothing changed.
“This is my reason why I am calling off the traditional marriage (Igba Ngwu) and white wedding ceremony between me and David Okike”, she said.
Helen, while noting physical abuse was not part of the agreement between them, said she has been through a lot since the beatings started.
“This Saturday should have been my traditional and white wedding ceremony day. I supposed to be happy but I am not.
“For couple of months now I have been going through a lot.
“I have been in a toxic relationship for over a year now. I am aware that this may be a shock to many people, especially people from my home town.
“My supposed husband hit and abuse me in(sic) any slightest provocation, just small misunderstanding without minding what condition I am into(sic)”.
She said she was cancelling the wedding because ‘I have chosen me and I will not live my entire life facing domestic violence.
“My supposed husband is full of rage, beating me with his belt, stick, broom is his daily routine.
“Many a times he had lifted his hammer on me and this Monday last week just because of little misunderstanding he beat me mercilessly and on the process of it he rushed into his mother’s kitchen for a cutlass.
“When I noticed he’s going for a weapon I locked the door behind him which he forcefully opened, both his mother and sisters and some neighbors were begging him not to cut me with the cutlass. With all these things and more I am fed up”.
While noting that the wedding was to hold on Saturday, Helen apologised to family and friends for any inconvenience her decision may have caused them.
“But I will not end up with a man who always promise that if I didn’t kill him, that he will kill me. I am still suffering from unstoppable headache I sustained from the head injury he gave me 3 weeks ago,” she said.
She stated the “bride price paid” will be returned in due time and urged everyone to respect her choices.
My sister, u did well he has not even wedded you in the church, he got a gold medal for beating on ur traditional marriage, u took the right decision.
Any one who love his wife can never raise hand on her.