Ogun Man Stabs Wife to Death in Domestic Dispute, Attempts to Flee

Domestic dispute in Nigeria, a 40-year-old man, Olanrewaju Bamidele, was arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly beating and stabbing his wife, Adenike, to death.

The incident occurred on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at Bisodun village in Ofada, within the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. According to reports, a disagreement between the couple escalated into a violent confrontation. The couple’s 15-year-old son, Ayomide, reported that his father used a large stick to beat his mother into unconsciousness before stabbing her in the head with a screwdriver, leading to her death.

Upon receiving the report, officers from the Ofada Police Post, led by DSP Akinfolahan Oluseye, promptly arrived at the scene. Community members had detained the suspect, preventing his attempted concealment of the crime. Preliminary investigations revealed that Bamidele had a history of domestic abuse towards his wife. After the fatal assault, he allegedly tried to secretly bury her body beside their house. However, his children noticed him digging a grave and alerted neighbors, who intervened and detained him until the police arrived.

The victim’s body was transported to the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital mortuary in Sagamu for an autopsy. Authorities recovered both the stick and screwdriver used in the assault. The Commissioner of Police for Ogun State at the time, Kenneth Ebrimson, ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.

This incident sheds light on the broader issue of domestic violence in Ogun State. A 2023 Justice Needs and Satisfaction survey by the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) estimated that approximately 15,000 cases of domestic violence occur annually in the state, a figure likely underreported due to societal stigmas and systemic challenges.

In response to this pressing issue, Ogun State enacted the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in 2018, aiming to address sexual and gender-based violence. To enhance the law’s effectiveness, stakeholders collaborated to establish “Ibi Isadi,” meaning “a place of refuge” in Yoruba. This initiative integrates legal, medical, and community-based support systems to provide comprehensive assistance to survivors of domestic violence.

Ibi Isadi operates through two primary channels: survivors can connect directly with Community Justice Representatives (CJRs) stationed at Primary Health Care Centres, or they can access support via an online portal. This multi-faceted approach ensures that survivors have accessible and comfortable avenues to seek help, whether through direct interaction, online communication, or visits to health centers. citeturn0search0

The tragic death of Adenike Bamidele serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for effective measures to combat domestic violence. Initiatives like Ibi Isadi represent significant strides towards providing survivors with the necessary support and resources to break the cycle of abuse and seek justice.