By Rather Ibe, Owerri
Sunday Nwaka, the man accused of burning his wife, Blessing Nwaka, to death by dousing her in petrol and setting her on fire, has expressed deep remorse and asked for forgiveness from their five children.
Speaking to the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the welder from Abagana in the Njikoka Local Government Area claimed that the horrifying act was the result of a moment of rage, triggered by his inability to find his wife the day before. He insisted that he never intended to kill her and pleaded for his children’s forgiveness, visibly distraught and currently in police custody.
However, Nwaka’s claim contradicts the testimonies of family and church members of the late Mrs. Blessing Nwaka, who insist there were no signs of domestic abuse. An anonymous friend of the deceased, however, revealed that Mrs. Nwaka had confided in her about her husband’s violent tendencies, suggesting that this wasn’t the first instance of him attempting to harm her.
The Anambra State Government has vowed that justice will be served. Mrs. Obinabo strongly condemned the act, stressing that under Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, the suspect will face the full extent of the law.
The Mayor of Njikoka Local Government Area, Barr. Dominic Ononiba, thanked the state government for its swift response and assured that the community would provide support to the children during this devastating time.
Mrs. Blessing Nwaka, the victim, was described as the primary breadwinner of the family. A harrowing video of her, suffering severe third-degree burns, circulated on social media late Tuesday, showing her desperately attempting to escape from the horrific attack. Eyewitnesses reported that the violent incident stemmed from a domestic dispute between the couple.