The young woman who was detained in Adamawa State on suspicion of fatally stabbing her husband tells her tale.
Charles Barka
A 20-year-old housewife named Caroline Barka has reportedly admitted to killing her own husband.
The young woman, who was detained in Adamawa State on suspicion of killing her husband by stabbing him, claims to be a victim of domestic abuse and spousal deprivation that compelled her to work menial jobs for N1,000.
How did you and your late husband first connect?
You can call me Caroline Barka. I have one child and am 20 years old. In Deywanga, in the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where I was attending a secondary school at the time, I first met my late husband.
A mason, he was. He frequently visited his aunt because she lived in our neighborhood. The aunt introduced him to me and suggested that he consider taking me as his wife. It was when I was 17 years old. He found a job as a builder in Jos, Plateau State, not long after she introduced us to one another, and he stayed there for a year. His aunt advised him to wed me as his wife after he had returned.
Did your parents give their blessing to the union?
The marriage was not approved by my parents. They claimed he was a drunk and that getting married to someone like him would be risky. But I didn't want to take their advice. Because he loved me and I loved him, I declared that I would marry him. I couldn't imagine going on without him. I promised myself that whether there was plenty or not, I would live with him. This was true even though my parents were against the union. I consequently got married to him. I only realized what my parents had said to me after we were married. They also warned me that he wouldn't look after me, but I didn't care because I said I would put my trust in God.
What happened after the marriage, in your opinion?
The first year went smoothly. However, what followed was a living hell. The first year went smoothly. However, what followed was a living hell. Fighting ruined every day after our first anniversary until the day he passed away. Not even for a single day did I feel joy.
Can you describe the events that led to the stabbing of your husband?
We typically receive food coupons, which we use to gather food items given to returnee internally displaced people, but prior to the stabbing incident that resulted in my husband's death, we did not. We frequently receive food assistance through coupons, but my husband used to collect the food and refuse to bring it home for our consumption. He began selling the items for himself, using the money to buy alcohol. Every time I criticized him for his behavior, this would usually result in a fight between us. He used to argue that my name wasn't on the food stamp as justification. I was unable to refute him based on his justification. So I disregarded him. I had to take on menial jobs because there was no food in the house to ensure my survival and the survival of my infant, who I was nursing. I typically work as a laborer at any construction site and am paid N1,000 for a full day's work. Female laborers in Madaali typically receive a salary of N1,000, and I used that money to purchase grains for our diet.
But I'm not sure how the knowledge that I had worked menial labor jobs came to be.
What a pity
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