By Bamidele Kolawole

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A 63-year-old man, Sunday Udechukwu, is now cooling his heels in the custody of the Ondo State Police Command, after he attacked his wife with machete.

The Hope Metro gathered that Udechukwu, macheted his 40- year-old wife, Mrs. Augustina Odechukwu, leaving her with deep cuts on her arms and all over her body for no reason in their residence along Oda Road, Akure.

Augustina, a labourer, who hails from Ebonyi State, while her husband, Sunday Udechukwu, a shoe trader from Anambra State.

The victim disclosed that her husband and herself had not been in good terms for over a year, and that the man had since stopped taking care of her and their five children.

According to the mother of five boys, “My husband has given our children and I, a quit notice. But I could not leave because I can’t afford to rent a room for myself and the children.

She said that she had been doing menial jobs, like helping people to fry garri to take care of their children and pay for their school fees.

The victim said she has been legally married to her husband of over 14 years, but suddenly without any reason, he wanted her and their children to vacate their home.

“It’s over a year now, my husband and I have not been living as a couple. But we’re just staying under the same roof and nothing more.

“On the fateful day, we were at home. Suddenly, my husband started beating me and he took cutlass to kill me. I sustained serious injuries on my right and left arms, because I used them to prevent the cutlass from cutting my head.

“I ran out of the house naked and he chased me with the cutlass in his hand. But I was rescued by a man, who is a Commissioner in the state. He ran towards my husband and collected the cutlass from him when he was about hacking me.

“The police later came and rushed me to the hospital while he was arrested and taken away.

“He said my children and I should leave the house for him. I have five boys for him. They are 14, 13, 11 and 8 years old, while the last born will soon clock three years.

“He once beat my second born to a point that he was covered with blood. He threatened to kill me and my children.

“I want government to fight for me because I don’t have anybody. I want justice,” Augustina explained.

Following the assault, a team from Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence(OSAA-GBV), led by Mrs. Olamide Falana, Special Adviser(Gender Matters) to the state Governor, visited the victim who is on admission at the Police Clinic  in  Akure .

Falana confirmed that the Commissioner, who saved the victim from early grave, gave a call on Sunday when the incident happened.

Mrs. Falana disclosed that she had to call a team of policemen in Government House to rush to the scene of the incident to rescue the victim and arrest the perpetrator.

She said the state government has zero tolerance for any form of gender violence, vowing that the culprit would be prosecuted in line with VAPP law.

“For anyone who is a victim, whether male or female, please speak out. When you speak out, you also empower the law to protect you and make our society a sane one for everyone to live in. So, when you see something, say something,”she added.

The Executive Secretary of OSAA-GBV, Bolanle Afolabi, who was represented by the Attorney to the agency, John Dada, said the agency would pursue the case to reasonable conclusion.

She said the agency is working with the police to ensure proper and speedy investigation is carried out, followed by the arraignment for trial.

Reacting to the incident, the state Police Commissioner, Abayomi Oladipo ordered that the case should be transferred to the command headquarters without delay.

He assured that cases of Gender-Based Violence(GBV), would be given speedy attention.

The commissioner, therefore, assured of unflinching synergy with OSAA-GBV in the fight against GBV in the state.