How our husband chained us up, put pepper in our private parts– Katsina housewives locked up for 10 months
Musa, allegedly locked up, chained and subjected to inhuman treatment for 10 months in the Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State, recently urged a Katsina Upper Sharia Court to dissolve their marriage to the man.
Fatimah Salisu, 25, and Hadiza Musa, 20, are currently seeking to divorce Musa for alleged cruelty and maltreatment.
The Katsina Police Command had in January arrested Musa, 30, over allegations that he locked up the two women in a room where he chained them and meted out all sorts of maltreatment on them for 10 months.
The two wives tell OLAIDE OYELUDE about the alleged ordeal in 10 months. Their counsel, Kabir Nelule of Hamisu Lawal Malumfashi Chambers, Katsina interpreted the interview done in Hausa
Tell me about your family background.
Hadiza: I’m from Kanyan Ubandaba village in the Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State. I’m the fifth and last daughter of my parents. We (children) are one man and four women. All the women are married.
Fatimah: I’m from Marke in Mani Local Government Area of the state. I’m the fifth child of my parents.
What do you do?
Hadiza: I’m a trader; I’m into petty trading.
Fatimah: I’m a tailor.
How did you meet your husband, Samaila Musa?
Hadiza: We met while I was hawking my goods. Later, he came to our house but my parents initially rejected him. My uncle, Isia, told my parents he investigated him (Samaila) and found out that he was not a good man.
But he kept coming to our house, promising that he would take care of my parents and me. So, my parents eventually agreed and consented to the marriage.
Fatimah: Samaila was introduced to me by a man who claimed to be his friend, Alhaji Garba. He had told Allahji Garba that he needed a wife, so he was brought to our house where I was staying with my three-year-old son that I had from my previous marriage.
How long was your courtship before marriage?
Hadiza: A week. He came and paid N20,000 as bride price to my parents and we got married few days later.
Fatimah: A week. He paid N20,000 as bride price and we married nine days after.
How long have you been with him?
Hadiza: It is getting to two years now.
Fatimah: I’ve been with him for 10 months.
What attracted you to Samaila?
Hadiza: When we met, he was generous to me and promised to take care of me and my parents.
Fatimah: Whenever he came to our house, he always gave me money and he promised to do more if I married him.
When did he start to maltreat you?
Hadiza: Two weeks after we got married, he started restricting my movements in the house. Later, he locked me up in a room and chained me up.
Fatimah: He started beating me four days after we got married. He also started calling my parents names. Later, he locked me up and chained me up in the same room with Hadiza.
