An article in Punch Newspaper reports that a 32-year-old beautician, Adejumoke Balogun, has shared her harrowing experience of losing sight in one eye due to 15 years of marital abuse. She claims that the physical and mental scars were inflicted during her courtship, which started prior to her marriage.
Balogun acknowledged that she was involved with another man when her relationship with her husband started, but they were only friends at that time. While she was a student, her friends and ex-boyfriend organized a surprise birthday party for her, complete with a photo shoot and meaningful gifts. This joyful occasion marked her last experience of freedom before her life took a tragic turn.
She elaborated on how the abuse began early in their relationship when she was still optimistic about a better future. Balogun admitted that she did not fully grasp the severity of her husband’s violent behavior before her pregnancy. Even after their marriage, the brutal cycle continued.
Over the years, Balogun endured relentless physical violence and emotional torment as the abuse escalated. She attempted to persevere through the hardships by remaining in the marriage, despite years of suffering. Eventually, one of her eyes was permanently injured from the repeated assaults, leaving her partially blind.
By sharing her experience of domestic violence and its lasting effects, she illustrates how the warning signs of abusive behavior can lead to devastating consequences. Although often unseen, the impact on Balogun has manifested as physical injuries and emotional trauma from which she may never fully heal.
She recounted, “Before I became pregnant, we were just friends. I mentioned that I had a boyfriend in Ibadan, but he assured me it wasn’t an issue. We started talking, and I had no idea things would take a turn for the worse. My friends and my boyfriend in Ibadan were planning a surprise for my birthday. My boyfriend, a student at OAU, came to my school with cake and gifts, and I was truly overwhelmed by the surprise. We even went to a photo studio to take pictures together.”
