Burnt by Love: Nigeria’s Army Marriage Tragedy

A Love Story Turned to Ashes

The news broke like a nightmare. Lt Samson Haruna, a promising Nigerian Army doctor, was burnt alive by his wife at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Akwa Ibom. They married in April, surrounded by family and hope. Now, his story fuels the harsh truth about domestic violence in marriage. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women and one in five men suffer physical or emotional abuse from their partners. Behind each figure lies a broken home, a shattered dream, and an unspoken cry. “Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point,” the French say — the heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.

What Drives a Spouse to Kill?

What makes someone who once vowed to love turn into a killer? Is it jealousy, emotional neglect, or unhealed trauma? In Nigeria alone, about 35% of marital disputes escalate into violence, with many ending fatally. Mental health advocate Dr Maymunah Kadiri once said, “Our minds can kill us before our hands ever do.” When love curdles into rage, reason becomes a stranger. This tragedy forces us to ask if love, when tainted by pain and pride, becomes a weapon. The signs are always there — we just refuse to listen.

The Echoes We Refuse to Hear

The haunting stories continue. Gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu died after years of alleged domestic abuse. A Lagos banker was murdered by her husband over infidelity suspicions. In Port Harcourt, a man poisoned himself and his wife after endless arguments. These are not isolated incidents but reflections of a society where silence replaces therapy and endurance replaces peace. Each tragedy whispers the same plea — listen before love turns lethal. We dismiss emotional exhaustion until it explodes into irreversible tragedy.

Let This Death Mean Something

We cannot mourn and move on. Nigeria must prioritise mental health in marriage, promote premarital counselling, and build safe support systems for distressed couples. Religious institutions must teach honesty, not endurance. Society must stop romanticising suffering. Marriage is meant to heal, not harm.
Let Lt Samson Haruna’s death be a turning point. Love should never end in ashes.

Further Reading

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