A man in the Limawa area of Minna, the capital of Niger State, allegedly beat his pregnant wife to death on the evening of Tuesday, June 3, 2025, sparking public outrage and prompting swift action from law enforcement authorities.
The tragic incident occurred in the couple’s home and quickly attracted attention from neighbors, who reported hearing loud cries and disturbing noises coming from inside the house. By the time residents forced their way into the residence to intervene, the woman was already dead.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the deceased woman, but local sources described the situation as deeply disturbing. Residents also claimed that the man, believed to be her husband, had a well-known history of physically abusing her.
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“This is not the first time he has laid hands on the woman. We have warned him several times, but he continued. Now he has killed her,” one local resident told reporters.
Following the incident, the man was reportedly arrested and taken into custody by police. He is currently being held as investigations into the case proceed. When contacted for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, stated that he was gathering the full details and would issue a statement at a later time. As of the time of this report, no official update has been released by the command.
The death has sparked fresh concerns over domestic violence in the state and across Nigeria, where cases of spousal abuse continue to be reported with troubling frequency. Community members expressed frustration, saying that repeated warnings to the suspect had gone unheeded, and that the lack of timely intervention had now led to a preventable loss of life.
The case is expected to draw scrutiny from both the public and advocacy groups calling for stronger protections for women, especially those in vulnerable domestic situations. The woman’s pregnancy has added another layer of sorrow to an already tragic situation.
In a related but separate incident earlier this year, a woman named Fatima Dzuma was arrested in Lafiyagi Dzwafu village, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, for allegedly murdering her husband. According to residents, Dzuma had married the man, Baba, three years earlier after leaving her first marriage. The couple did not have children together, though Dzuma had one child from her previous relationship.
At the time of the killing, Baba’s first wife had just given birth, and the family was preparing for the child’s naming ceremony. Dzuma reportedly confessed to murdering her husband because she “no longer liked him.” According to police and eyewitness accounts, she used a scarf to strangle him while he slept, then struck him twice on the head and once on the hand with a pestle, breaking his hand.
She allegedly wrapped Baba’s body in a mat and dragged it to the backyard before cleaning the scene of the crime. For three days, Dzuma reportedly behaved as though she was unaware of his whereabouts, even as his family searched for him. Eventually, she admitted to acting alone in the murder.
Both cases underscore the growing concern over domestic violence in Niger State and have prompted calls for more robust enforcement of protective laws, as well as greater public awareness campaigns to combat abuse within households. Activists argue that warning signs are too often ignored or inadequately addressed, allowing dangerous situations to escalate into fatal outcomes.
Law enforcement officials have promised a thorough investigation into the most recent killing in Minna. Authorities are expected to release further details as more information becomes available, including the identity of the deceased woman and possible charges against the suspect.
