Some residents of Sabon-Gari Area of Bwari in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday threatened to beat and effect arrest of a man, who publicly assaulted his heavily pregnant wife.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the residents made the threat after the man, known as Mr Paulinus Nonso beat up his pregnant wife, Agnes Nonso in the public glare in Abuja.
NAN reports that Nonso was rescued from the hands of the angry mob that gathered at the scene by some policemen on patrol and also forced him to take his wounded wife to the hospital for check-up.
Although, no one could ascertained the cause of the attack, some of the residents described the act as barbaric and in-human.
Some of the residents also told NAN that the unfortunate behaviour of Nonso has been frequent and therefore, deserved to be handed over to the law enforcement agents.
Mrs Theresa Kunle, an eye witness and neighbour of the couple, said that the man has consistently beaten up his wife over trivial issues in the past and has been advised to be tolerant and patient, but to no avail.
“This is not the first time he is doing this; we have tried to make him understand that marriage is all about tolerance and patience but for no reason, he sometimes, creates a scene by his violent actions.
“Today, he decided to bring it out in the open. It is not enough that she is heavy with his child; he just assumed he was doing the right thing.
“He feels nobody can correct him, and nobody can do anything about it.
“Well, we have told him now, we will get him arrested next time he dares to do it, it is getting too much,” Kunle said.
Another resident, Miss Anthonia Nwosu also said that it was unjust and totally unacceptable to beat up a pregnant woman, no matter her crime.
According to her, no human being in his or her right senses will put up such an act in the public.
Nwosu, while praying that it does not happen again, warned that the mob may take up the law into their hands before calling on security agents, as Nonso’s actions were becoming intolerable.
Also, Mr Bamidele Alabi, a shop owner in the area described Nonso’s actions as a disgrace.
According to him, I do not like men who beat up their wives; who beat them up when they also wrong their wives or they don’t wrong their own wives.
“ As if beating a woman is not wrong enough, but beating up a pregnant woman, worsen the situation; if the community gathers and beat him up next time, maybe he would think twice before doing it again.
“Nobody will kill anybody, just to teach him a lesson and for him to feel the pains he has been inflicting on her.
“This rubbish has to stop among men generally, beating a woman up does not make you feel better except if you are sick or possessed.’’
NAN also gathered that Nonso, who is a manager in a hotel in the area, has two daughters with his wife and was expecting their third child. (NAN)