The issue of domestic violence has been a trend in homes for many years but now receiving serious attention from human rights activists, the government and international bodies in recent times. Many have gone through the agonizing and traumatizing situation in silence due to the African stereotype of men being the head of the home and women being meant to be submissive.
Through campaigns and agitations, many Nigerians have begun to voice out their plights and have received attention and subsequently rescued from their life-threatening situations. Nigerian celebrities are also not left out of this saga, as many have started revealing the hell in which they’ve lived in and trauma they had experienced from their abusive partners.
Some of these celebrities include:
Monalisa Chinda
The ever glowing Nollywood actress who seemed to have had it all green, opened up in 2014 and revealed that she was a victim of domestic abuse in her former marriage, which consequently led to its crash. She however remarried her present heartthrob, Tonye Victor. Monalisa Chinda, Fathia Balogun, Emmanuella Ike, Muma Gee, Tiwa Savage, Foluke Daramola, Precious Jones, Tonto Dikeh, Mercy Aigbe and Chika Ike Fathia Balogun Fathia and Saidi Balogun were a power couple, not only in the Yoruba scene but in the movie industry generally. Unfortunately, their marriage did not last as it hit the rocks. It was riddled and characterized with stories of domestic violence.
Emmanuella Ike
The beautiful wife of popular Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike has also been a victim of domestic abuse. Emmanuella accused her husband of physically abusing her for the first time in 2014 and again in 2015. She finally dragged him to court, filing for a divorce which was finalized this year. Emeka was however granted custody of the four children the marriage produced by the jury in charge of the case.
Muma Gee
Beautiful looking singer, Muma Gee was not also left out in the emotional strain that comes with domestic abuse. After six years of marriage, she called it quits with Prince Eke. The singer said she decided to end her long suffering and torture by filing for a divorce against the Nollywood actor, who she claimed used to beat her. She went ahead to put some pictures of her bruises on social media as evidence of the torture she went through.
Tiwa Savage When the news of Tiwa Savage’s marriage having its own share of domestic violence issue broke out, it was almost impossible to believe. Barely two years after marriage to Tee Billz, the music diva revealed that her husband has been hitting her before and after her marriage. Rumour however has it that the two may be on their way to having a reunion.
Foluke Daramola
Busty Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola, who owns an NGO that caters for rape victims in Africa, has also had her share in the agonizing experience of domestic abuse. The actress revealed that she was raped when she was a teenager and was also a victim of domestic abuse in her first marriage to Tunde Shobowale.
Precious Jones Wife of Nigerian rapper, 2Shotz also has a story to tell on domestic abuse. Precious, in a leaked chat with a friend, revealed the series of abuses she went through in the hands of her husband. Recall that Beverly Osu, who was once in a relationship with the rapper also accused him of assault and domestic violence, which was greeted by defense statements by Precious who was just newly wedded to the rapper.
Tonto Dikeh
Tonto Dikeh has also voiced her predicaments out for public knowledge. According to her, her husband Oladunni Churchill physically assaulted her on numerous occasions in their marriage. She revealed in an interview amidst tears how she was battered by her ex- husband. She went ahead to say that she stayed put in the marriage because she loved her husband and didn’t want to quit the marriage just like that. Churchill however debunked all these claims and clearly stated that marrying Tonto was a mistake in the first place. She currently has custody of their son.
Mercy Aigbe
The news of the assault of Nigerian screen goddess, Mercy Aigbe was received with shock. The actress has allegedly been enduring domestic violence for a long time until things got worse, earlier this year. The couple was reportedly in a nasty fight that left the actress with severe injuries and a fractured skull. The actress released images and videos of the assault and her husband claimed it was a behind-the-scene image from a movie set. Mercy has however secured a restraining order from the court, ordering Mr Gentry not to come within one mile of Mercy Aigbe’s location at all times. They were married for seven years and the union produced a son. While it was Mercy’s second marriage, it is her husband’s third marriage.
Chika Ike
Chika’s announcement of her finalized divorce received lots of backlash on social media on her failed marriage. This was due to speculations that she was not a loyal wife and that she got married for money. According to her, her ex-husband, known as Mr Ebireri physically assaulted her for years and one of the many fights resulted in a miscarriage. She revealed that the last straw that broke the camel’s back was when he threw a glass jug to her face during a heated argument. She dodged it and it shattered on the wall. She then decided to leave the marriage. She has since moved on with her life and claims she has found love again.
Source: Vanguard
