Nigeria is one of the few countries where Domestic Violence is not outlawed. The lack of punishment emphasizes how prominent Domestic Violence exists in their everyday lives. Following the recent death of Nigerian Gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu came public outrage. As the truth of her cause of death was revealed, fans began having open conversations about the lack of punishment for domestic abusers and started a petition to create more laws to protect the abused.
In Nigeria, domestic violence traditionally gets committed against girls and women. The most common forms of violence against women in Nigeria are rape, acid attacks, molestation, wife-beating, and corporal punishment. Osinachi Nwachukwu was a woman praised for her peaceful gospel music. But, following her death, her boisterous voice soon echoed into the background as the cause of her death overshadowed everything she accomplished in her lifetime.
News broke about the gospels singer’s untimely death just about a week ago. The initial reason for her death was the singer’s alleged throat cancer. However, shortly after her death, the sister of the famed singer spoke out, claiming Osinachi had died from a blood clot in her chest, one that she had gotten as a result of receiving a beating from her husband, Mr. Peter Nwachukwu.
Ms. Favour Made, the elder sister to the late Osinachi, spoke with a news correspondent at New Vanguard Media, Inc. and went on to say that her sister got stuck in an abusive relationship. Although Made and her husband advised Osinachi to separate from her abusive husband, “Before now, we told her to come out of the marriage; we told her that they are not divorcing, that it’s just separation. But she felt that God is against divorce. We told her that separation is not a sin but just for her to stay alive and take care of her children. She will always tell us to relax and that the man will change.”
When Osinachi was kicked in the chest by her husband and took her to the hospital, he didn’t call Made to tell her the injuries her sister had sustained; it was a friend living in the Ebonyi state. The concerned friend reached out to Made to make sure she was aware of the beating her sister had received.
When Osinachi’s sister got to the hospital, she learned that the doctor taking care of Osinachi was unaware of how the injuries were inflicted. Their brother went up to the doctor and asked what had killed the famous singer; the doctor said there were blood clots in her chest. In her last hours, Osinachi pleaded with her siblings for peace. Made along with everyone else standing by her side, are standing against domestic abuse are also calling for legislation to deal with domestic abuse.
Osinachi’s husband has been detained and has yet to get charged with an offense. Pauline Tallen, Nigeria’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, promised Osinachis family that justice would get served for their sister. So far, more than 9,000 names have been signed demanding justice for Osinachi, and all other domestically abused women in Nigeria.
