Man Allegedly Breaks Wife’s Leg and Arm for Visiting Clinic Without His Permission
A man, Malami Gebawa, from Durbawa village in Sokoto State, is facing allegations of severely injuring his wife, Malam Halimatu Sadiya, by breaking her right leg and arm after discovering that she had visited a clinic without his approval.
The victim, who is currently receiving treatment at Wamakko Orthopaedic Hospital, explained that the incident occurred after she returned from her sick mother’s home. She had been suffering from an illness for several months and had been requesting her husband’s permission to seek medical help, which he repeatedly denied.
“I have been unwell for four months and, although my husband called a health worker to administer drips on me, my condition didn’t improve,” she shared. “I asked him several times to let me go to the hospital, but he refused, even when my relative offered to take me. So, when I visited my sick mother, I consulted a health worker there, who gave me some medication.”
Upon returning home, Malami noticed the medication and confronted her about it. He became upset, accusing her of seeking medical help without his consent. Despite her explanation that the drugs were prescribed by the health worker treating her mother, Malami insisted on meeting the health worker himself. When Halimatu went to get ready, her husband locked the door, beat her with a stick, and left her unconscious.
“When he realized he had broken my leg and arm, he became frantic and begged me not to tell anyone. He even suggested that I claim I was injured by an accident instead,” she added.
Malami later admitted to his actions, describing them as being influenced by “the devil.” He explained that his wife’s visit to the clinic without his permission upset him, especially since he had been trying to care for their family’s health needs. “I always make sure to take care of their medical needs. Even last week, I brought a health worker to treat her for diarrhea,” he explained.
However, he denied using a stick to beat her, claiming that she was injured when she tried to grab the bucket he had taken from her, which contained a hospital card and medication. He acknowledged the fractures and later sought the help of a traditional bone setter, even spending money to treat her injuries.
Malami expressed regret over his actions and pleaded with others not to encourage Halimatu to leave him. “I love her deeply, and I know she loves me too,” he said, calling the incident a moment of madness. He also defended his decision to prevent his family from seeking hospital treatment, citing the lack of functional medical facilities in their area.
Malami has since been arrested and brought to the Sokoto State Police Command for questioning. However, a spokesperson for the police stated that they had not yet received full details of the case.
