Update: Pregnant Woman Assaulted And Detained Unjustly By Brother-In-Law Seeks Justice(Photos)

Blessing Emmanuel, a 5-month-pregnant woman, wants justice after she was assaulted and detained by her husband, and brother-in-law unjustly.

In a recent lengthy statement sent to NewsRain Nigeria, the victim who is based in Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA of Abia State, Nigeria said: “I’m sharing this painful ordeal to seek justice for the cruel treatment I’ve endured in the hands of my husband, his brothers, and some compromised police officers“.

The statement continues below;

“It began on November 24, 2024, when my cousin sister, Glory, wore a pair of leggings I had given her. My husband’s elder brother’s wife accused her of stealing the leggings, despite my cousin explaining that they were mine.

The next day, I confronted her and successfully reclaimed the leggings after a heated argument. However, my husband’s younger brother, Uzochukwu Rufus, verbally abused me and physically assaulted me by punching my chest and pushing me against a wall.

Hearing the commotion, my husband and his elder brother, Ikechukwu Rufus, intervened. Instead of protecting me, my husband slapped me and accused me of disrespecting his brother. Enraged, he declared our marriage over and began throwing my belongings out of the house. The situation escalated further when Uzochukwu forcibly dragged my cousin sister out of the bathroom, naked, accusing her of causing the chaos.

When my sister arrived to help, Ikechukwu physically assaulted her and released a bulldog to attack her. She fell into a gutter while trying to escape, sustaining severe injuries. Amidst the chaos, I tried to retrieve a business bag containing ₦4.8 million, but Uzochukwu snatched it from me and threw it inside the house. Helpless, I left with my cousin and sister to report the assault to the Ubakala divisional police station.

At the station, my husband’s elder brother called and instructed the officers to detain us, branding us criminals. Despite our injuries and my pregnancy, we were unjustly detained until evening and forced to pay ₦42,000 for bail. A subsequent hospital visit revealed I was at risk of losing one of my twins, and my sister suffered fractures in her leg and finger.

Determined to seek justice, I reported the incident to the New Zone 9 Divisional Police Station under the Abia State Police Command.

Letters of invitation were sent to my husband and his brothers, but they ignored them and instead manipulated the old divisional police station to arrest me and my cousin sister. We were detained again, and I bled throughout the ordeal without medical attention. It was only after paying another ₦35,000 in bail that we were released.

I’ve since engaged a lawyer who helped me in writing formal complaints to:

• Inspector General of Police
• The National Human Rights Commission
• The Attorney General of Nigeria
• The Nigerian Bar Association, and
• The Ministry of Women Affairs.

Despite all my efforts, and pleading, my business money has not been returned, and my in-laws have openly threatened to destroy me at all costs.

I am still receiving medical care and still in the hospital bleeding as of today 15th December, 2024 due to the physical assault and emotional trauma I endured. I humbly appeal to everyone to help me amplify this story by tagging the appropriate authorities so they can take action. Justice must prevail, and I need your support to hold those responsible accountable“, she concluded.

See photos of the victim bleeding HERE