Murtala Sogbade, the brother of Ganiyat, a mother of three who was allegedly murdered by her husband, Ayoola Ayanwale, has described the man as a serial wife beater known only for “smoking weed” and neglecting his family.

The incident occurred on Thursday night at Olutayo Alao Street, River Valley Estate, the Ogun State axis of Ojodu Berger.

The mother of three sustained fatal injuries and was rushed to Gifted Hospital in Olowora, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.

It was gathered that after allegedly stabbing his wife more than four times during a domestic dispute, Ayanwale consumed a substance suspected to be poisonous in an apparent suicide attempt.

Hours later, the police said another development was recorded in the Sotubo area, where Ayanwale was found gasping for breath in an open field on Friday.

Sunday PUNCH reported that three knives were recovered at the scene.

A manhunt was immediately launched for the suspect before his body was later discovered in Sotubo.

Items recovered from him included a bottle containing a suspected liquid substance, two mobile phones, a voter’s card and an ATM card, which confirmed his link to the earlier killing.

Speaking during a WhatsApp and telephone conversation on Saturday, Sogbade said the marriage had been plagued by violence for years.

“She is my immediate sister. She had been married to this man for 14 years. They had issues back and forth.

“They would resolve it and then come back together. We thought it was the usual problems of a husband and wife. Later, it escalated to assaults and bruises. He would beat her,” he said.

He added that the family had intervened on several occasions.

“At a point, we called a family meeting and resolved the issues. But late last year, the husband said he was tired of the relationship and wanted a divorce.

“We told him to go through the legal process since they were legally married.”

According to him, Ayanwale also informed his father, who relayed the message to the deceased.

“My sister told her father-in-law that she was also tired of the relationship. She had wanted a divorce since the beatings started, but she didn’t want to be seen as the one who initiated it,” Sogbade said.

He further alleged that the husband’s family, who reside abroad, offered the woman N700,000 to rent an apartment for herself and the three children.

“There is no apartment for N700,000 for a woman and three children in Lagos. The husband should have made provisions for the children’s accommodation since he was the one asking for a divorce.

“On January 1, we inspected an apartment, but the bathroom was too small, so we continued searching. Last week, we were still looking.

“Then suddenly, my sister’s 13-year-old child ran to tell me that her father had stabbed their mother to death,” he narrated.

When asked what triggered the argument before the fatal attack, Sogbade said, “Nothing but jealousy, hatred and envy. He wasn’t providing anything for the family. The only thing he knew how to do was smoke weed.”

Meanwhile, a neighbour of the couple, who identified herself on X as @Irebamiolakanmi, said the killing followed a long history of domestic abuse.

According to her, the violence reportedly began after the woman refused to eat food prepared by her husband.

“This man stabbed his wife five times and then went on the run. Someone who comes home once or twice a year and does not care how the children are fed or how their school fees are paid,” she wrote.

“She once told me she was always happy when he was not around because that was when she had peace of mind. I advised her to leave and shared my own experience, telling her that domestic violence should not be endured. But she said she had three children.

Confirming the development, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said, “The case has been harmonised and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. The bodies have been deposited in the mortuary.”

Thursday’s killing adds to a growing list of femicide cases in the state. In 2022, PUNCH Metro reported the arrest of a 45-year-old man who allegedly beat his 42-year-old wife, Bukola Omotosho, to death during a domestic dispute. (PUNCH)

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