It was the timely arrival of operatives from the Bauchi State Police Command that saved an 18-year-old housewife from being given jungle justice by a mob after she was said to have stabbed her husband during a disagreement over money, phone and other belongings.
On Sunday, October 25 around 7:00 a.m., what started as a heated argument between husband and wife in Lirr Bajar, Dass Local Government Area of the state, later turned bloody.
The teenage wife, Fatima Dalha, was said to have confronted her 30-year-old husband, whose name was given simply as Mohammed, demanding her money, wrappers and phone she said were in his possession.
Apparently following the refusal of the husband to release the items to her, tempers flared and the argument turned into a physical fight.
In a moment of rage and desperation, Fatima reportedly reached for a knife in the kitchen, stabbed her husband in the stomach which made him to fall, bleeding and shouting for help.
His shout attracted neighbours who gathered, formed a mob and attempted to lynch the teenager after seeing the husband in a pool of his blood.
It was gathered that one of those at the scene made a call to the police station which prompted police operatives from Dass Divisional Headquarters to race to the scene and saved her from jungle justice.
The operatives also rushed the husband to a nearby hospital, where he is now responding to treatment.
According to information by the police gathered from the neighbours, the marriage was contracted two months ago but has always experienced moments anger and fights.
“The wife has been detained, the knife recovered, and the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bauchi for discreet investigation,” the command said in a statement on Sunday night.
“A moment of anger can destroy two lives forever. We urge couples to seek peaceful means, through family, elders and lawful channels, instead of resorting to violence,” the Commissioner of Police in the state advised young couples while reacting to the incident.
