A housewife in Sokoto state poured hot oil on her husband’s private organ after accusing him of speaking with another woman on the phone.

The husband, Bello Abubakar, who resides in the Yar Gabas area of Sokoto metropolis, denied the allegation, insisting that he was not involved in any inappropriate relationship with another woman.

He attributed the incident to what he described as a spiritual condition that was affecting his wife, saying that she had been battling some issues lately.

Abubakar, while narrating the incident, said that the attack occurred after he returned from the mosque.

“I left home for the mosque to perform Subhi prayer. After I finished, I slept there. I later woke up around 8am and returned home. On arrival, I met her crying, and I asked my wife what was wrong, but she refused to respond.”

“I then performed ablution and started reciting the Qur’an, before I was called to the office to go and repair an electric appliance there. As I was about to leave, she asked me to wait for her.

“I was lying on the bed naked when she came in holding a cup containing melted butter. I didn’t suspect there was anything harmful in it, because whenever her condition relapses, she usually takes a cup to pray over water and drink.

“Suddenly, I felt something hot on my private part and I screamed. When I checked my hand, it was already burnt too.

“I sustained severe burns as a result of the hot butter poured on my body.”

He said his health condition was currently improving due to the medical attention he is receiving at a Specialist Hospital in Sokoto.

A senior brother to the victim, Tasiu Abubakar, said the couple had been living peacefully, but he said the woman’s mother had earlier opposed the marriage, raising suspicion that the mother influenced the woman to carry out the nefarious act.

According to him, both families have committed to reconciliation and decided not to pursue legal action over the fire incident.

Efforts to speak with the wife or her relatives remained abortive.

Also when contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he would investigate the matter and get back with details, but had yet to get back to our reporter as of the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust, but headline reworked)