Oyo man beats pregnant wife to death, suspect denies claims
A 40-year-old man, Niyi Adebanjo, has reportedly beaten his 35-year-old wife, Toyin, to death in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PUNCH Metro reliably gathered, on Wednesday, that the late Toyin, a mother of two, with nine-month-old pregnancy, was beaten, on Monday night, February 20, 2023, by her husband over an unknown argument in their apartment at the Fodasis area, Ring road in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the deceased has been subjected to domestic violence for a very long time without the knowledge of her family members.
The victim’s mother, Iyabo Akinbode, who also spoke with PUNCH Metro, on Wednesday, alleged that her daughter was killed by her husband.
Akinbode said, “I never knew she was facing domestic violence! She never told anyone in the family that she was passing through all this nonsense. She called me two days before she died that she was having a headache. And I told her that something must be done to that her constant headache. She should try to see her doctor.
“So, she called me again the following day which was Monday that she was not okay. I went there and was told her husband beats her. She had nine-month-old pregnancy. On Tuesday, she phoned me that she wanted to drink pap and I went there. But when the condition was getting worse. I phoned her husband who told me to take her to a nearby chemist which I vehemently declined.
“I then took her to The Light hospital at Bolumole, Challenge. When we got there, I started calling her husband from the morning and he refused to pick up his calls until she gave up the ghost in the evening. The husband appeared when she died, so some of her friends who came to the hospital started harassing the husband the he killed her because she used to tell them what was going on in her matrimonial home.
“This is unfortunate because she was expected to give birth a newborn baby a few days before her demise. She was beaten to the level of bleeding internally. This is pathetic! As you are seeing me, I’ve not changed this attire since I lost her.”
Reacting to the allegation, the husband, Adebanjo confirmed that he had an issue with her late wife in 2018 over her infidelity which was resolved the same year after the intervention of his elder brothers from Lagos.
Adebanjo alleged that her infidelity continued unabated, saying, “Truly, my wife and I had an issue before quite alright. And that was in 2018, about five years ago. I beat her that time but since then, I never touched her again.
“I never beat her again. Someone I didn’t beat when I saw a nude photo sent to her by one of her concubines and her nude photo sent back to him. Someone I didn’t do anything to her at that time, so why will I beat her now to the point of death? Someone with nine-month-old pregnancy, they are just trying to rope me.
“All these allegations were framed to rope me. There is a doctor’s report if you want to see it. The doctor said she died of cardiac arrest and high blood pressure. The police even told them that they can exhume her corpse if they are not satisfied after the burial. So, why are they blackmailing me? He said.
PUNCH Metro further learnt that the case has been reported at Orita Police Station, while the victim had since been buried at a private cemetery, Oke Itunu in Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state.
As of press time, the Oyo Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached for comment.
(Punch)
