- 33-year-old man, Sunday Echegi allegedly cut off wife’s wrist over handset in Nsukka
- Enugu police swings into action, arrest suspect as wife is transferred to state university Teaching hospital
- State Commissioner for Gender affairs says the suspect will surely receive the full wrath of law over his action
It was indeed another day of gory tales in Nsukka, Enugu state as a young man has allegedly cut off his wife’s wrist with cutlass following a heated argument over a handset.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the incident happened in Ibagwa-Ani, Nsukka local government area of the state.
Sunday Echege, a 33-year-old who lived with his wife Loveth Chinonso Echegi in Ibagwa-Agu farm settlement in Ibagwa-Ani was said to brutally severed her wrist on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
Narrating the ugly incident to our reporter, an eye witness told our reporter that “for some time now, the husband has been beating her over her handset.
“Every time, the wife would buy handset and the husband would seize it, asking her why she should buy a handset without his consent.”
Explaining further, the source told our reporter that “last week after some beating she received from Sunday, she ran away to stay with her mother-in-law.
“However, few days later, the mother-in-law took her back to her husband, advising them to always live in peace.”
It was gathered that on Sunday, January 26, the seized her handset again and started beating her. Not knowing what to do, she was said to have called him all sorts of unprintable names for forceful seizing her handset.
WITHIN NIGERIA source revealed that the furious husband rushed into his house, brought out a sharp machete which he normally used to prune palm fronts and aimed it at the head of his wife. In a flash of seconds as she fended off her husband with her two hands, the ever sharp machete descended on her hand and her left wrist was seen rolling on the ground.
Our source revealed that she was immediately rushed to Kaetochukwu hospital Nsukka where she is currently receiving medical treatment.
Police confirm incident, arrest the suspect
In any case, confirming the ugly incident, the Enugu state police said they have arrested the suspect on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
A press release by the state command explained that the suspect will be charged to court in after an investigation.
“The Enugu State Police Command, through its operatives attached to Okpuje Division, on January 26, 2025, arrested the suspect Sunday Echegi.a 33-year-old male resident of Ibagwa-Agu Farm Settlement in Ibagwa-Ani community, Nsukka LGA, for severing the left wrist of his wife, Chinonso Echege.
“The arrest was made possible with the assistance of law-abiding members of the community, and the machete used in committing the crime was recovered from the suspect.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect, who has confessed to the crime, claimed he acted out of suspicion that his wife was involved in extramarital affairs.
“The suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to ensure a thorough and timely investigation, followed by the prosecution of the suspect. He further urged couples to resolve their differences through love, understanding, and legal means, rather than resorting to violent criminal acts.”
Enugu Gender affairs commissioner wades into the matter
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the state commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih has waded into the matter.
In a release on Tuesday, the commissioner revealed that the victim has been transferred to the state University Teaching hospital, Enugu for proper treatment.
The release partly read thus; “This is yet another sad development, which we are following up with to ensure that justice is done.
“The information we have that the man in question aimed for the wife’s head during a disagreement, but ended up chopping off the left hand with which she tried to fend off the machete. She also sustained injury on the right hand.
“So, we swung into action immediately we got the information and had him arrested immediately. So, he is now in police custody.
“But the most urgent matter now is to save the victim’s life. So, we have moved her to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, where she is currently receiving full medical attention.
“Meanwhile, this is a case the government is taking very seriously. The wife of the governor, Her Excellency, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, is personally on this gruesome matter and has vowed that justice must be served.
“The suspect will be moved to the Police Force CID, Enugu today for a thorough investigation. From there, the law will take its full course,” Mrs. Enih stated.
The Commissioner, once again, warned Enugu residents to refrain from all manner of domestic and gender-based violence as well as child abuse, as the Mbah Administration would never take such lying low.
