Grief, Anger and Silence: Community Mourns Woman Allegedly Burnt Alive by Husband Over Adultery Claims

 

Wails pierced the air and emotions overflowed at the weekend as mourners gathered for the final farewell of Blessing Chioma Nwaka, a mother of five whose tragic death shocked her community and drew nationwide attention. The burial, held in her husband’s compound in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, was filled with sorrow and unresolved questions.

Family members of the accused, Sunday Nwaka, were seen sobbing uncontrollably throughout the interment. The atmosphere was thick with grief as loved ones, neighbors and sympathisers watched Blessing’s casket being lowered into the ground. Her children, now orphaned by a brutal chain of events, stood by as their mother was laid to rest where she had once lived with the man accused of causing her death.

Eyewitnesses and relatives recounted the horrifying events of January when Blessing was reportedly doused with petrol and set ablaze by her husband over allegations of infidelity. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital by horrified neighbours, she succumbed to the severe burns and injuries. The brutality of her death sent shockwaves through Anambra and beyond.

Shortly after the incident, the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs stepped in, ensuring the suspect was apprehended and handed over to the state police command. Public outrage surged on social media, demanding justice for Blessing and calling for thorough prosecution.

Controversy soon followed. By February, rumors began circulating on social platforms claiming that Sunday Nwaka had died in police custody. These claims quickly gained traction, sparking confusion and concern about the state of the case.

Authorities moved swiftly to counter the narrative. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, issued a formal statement debunking the report. He insisted that Sunday Nwaka was alive, healthy and being held in lawful custody. Ikenga warned that the false death rumor was a deliberate distraction intended to disrupt ongoing court processes and mislead the public.

Despite this clarification, uncertainty has continued to surround the legal proceedings. More than five months since Sunday’s arrest, there has been no substantial update made public regarding his prosecution. This prolonged silence has stirred renewed anxiety within the community, especially among human rights advocates and women's groups.

The Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs had earlier pledged to follow through with the case and ensure justice is served. Yet, the lack of visible progress has raised eyebrows. Several community leaders and civil society organizations have expressed frustration over the apparent delay. Some fear that the case might be buried quietly without delivering the justice promised.

At the burial service, clerics called for calm but demanded accountability. They urged the government and relevant institutions to remember the children left behind and ensure they are not forgotten in the aftermath. Their lives, now forever altered, need not be further scarred by the absence of justice.

Women rights advocates present at the burial emphasized the importance of swift legal action. One representative from a local NGO noted that cases involving gender-based violence often get swept under the rug if constant pressure is not applied. She highlighted that Blessing’s story is one among many in Nigeria where domestic violence results in fatalities, yet the perpetrators are not always held accountable.

The grieving family of the deceased called for transparency and urged law enforcement to make updates about the investigation and court proceedings available to the public. They insisted that justice should not only be done but seen to be done.

As the dust settles over the freshly covered grave, the memory of Blessing Chioma Nwaka remains vivid in the minds of many. Her story has become a painful reminder of the urgent need to address domestic violence with firmness, speed and sincerity. The community now watches and waits, hoping that silence does not become the final chapter in a case that began in flames.