LAGOS, Nigeria – A 32-year-old woman, Ogechi Isaiah, has tragically lost her right eye following an alleged assault by her lover, Mohammed Yinusa, in the Southern Estate area of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.
The incident, which Isaiah claims occurred on January 4, 2025, has sparked renewed calls for police intervention and human rights advocacy as her pursuit of justice appears to be stalled by demands for money from law enforcement.
In a video appeal made on May 3, Isaiah recounted the harrowing events, stating that her live-in lover, a bus driver named Mohammed Yinusa, allegedly punched her in the face after she repeatedly asked him to check some freshly washed clothes she had helped him pack. “Before I knew anything, he gave me a heavy blow on my right eye, and immediately my eyes started bleeding and dripping water,” she narrated, describing the horrific moment her vision was irrevocably damaged.
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Neighbors reportedly intervened, urging Yinusa to take Isaiah to the hospital, and he initially promised to cover her medical bills – a promise she says he has yet to fulfill.
However, Yinusa, in a separate video, denies punching Isaiah. He claims the injury occurred during a struggle over a door. “She held on the handle of the door from inside and I was also trying to open it from outside. Then we both start to drag the door, until I suddenly left it. Immediately she opened it, she rushed towards me and held my trousers. It was my neighbour who now told me that blood was dropping from her eyes. That was when I realised that the handle of the door removed and hit her in the eye,” he explained, insisting he made efforts to treat her.
Harmony Tachie, a human rights advocate and founder of Harmony Advocacy Network, who was alerted to the incident, took both Isaiah and Yinusa to the Elemoro Police Station. However, Tachie, who also represents Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, alleges that attempts to secure justice for Isaiah were thwarted at the station.
According to Tachie, Isaiah initially requested a hold on the case, but returned on Saturday, May 3, lamenting Yinusa’s failure to cover her medical expenses. Upon their return to the police station, Yinusa was reportedly detained. However, the case allegedly hit a roadblock when Isaiah was asked by police to provide money for a charge sheet and transportation to court in Epe.
“We heard the victim later went to the station in the evening and told the police that she did not have money to start a case,” Tachie stated. She further alleged that the police then provided Isaiah with a paper to withdraw the case that evening, and a note from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) instructing Yinusa to take her to the hospital. Since his release by the police, Yinusa’s whereabouts are unknown, and his phone number is unreachable.
Attempts to get a statement from the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls to his line went unanswered and a text message received no reply at the time of this report.
The incident highlights persistent concerns about access to justice for victims of domestic violence in Nigeria, particularly when financial barriers are imposed by law enforcement, effectively hindering legal proceedings. Advocates are calling for a thorough investigation into the alleged police conduct and swift action to ensure justice for Ogechi Isaiah.