Onyeche Wofurum Igwe
A group, Rivers Women United for Christ (RWUC) has condemned the rising cases of domestic violence involving couples and lovers, describing it as an “evil act orchestrated by the devil to torment mankind.”
The group’s coordinator, Fidelia Kpakol, who spoke with our correspondent on Sunday, emphasized the need for couples to seek alternative solutions to conflicts, instead of resorting to violence.
Specifically, she condemned the recent incident which sparked widespread outrage, where a 300-level student of the University of Port Harcourt, Cynthia Chukwunda, allegedly set her lover, Sunny Amadi, ablaze in her apartment.
According to her, the incident occurred on Sunday morning at Ogbogoro Street, Choba, and Amadi succumbed to his injuries despite medical efforts.
Kpakol described the incident as “horrible and tragic,” urging security agents to apprehend Chukwunda and bring her to justice, emphasizing that domestic violence is unacceptable and that couples should seek help through counseling or separation rather than resorting to violence.
An eyewitness narrated that Sunny arrived unannounced at Cynthia’s residence after being absent for over six months following her pregnancy.
According to the source, identified as Chidera, argument ensued when Cynthia returned home and found Sunny lying on her bed. She left quietly, then came back with petrol, and set Sunny and the bed on fire while he was asleep.
She also said that both Cynthia and Sunny hail from Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and that they had been experiencing relationship issues, with Cynthia allegedly threatening Sunny’s life multiple times.
She added that Cynthia, who is eight months pregnant, sustained burns during the incident and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
She said: “The guy came to visit her after being away for so long. He entered the room when she wasn’t around and lay on the bed. When Cynthia came back and saw him, she was not pleased. After an argument, she left, returned later while he was sleeping, and then set him on fire.”
The RWUC Coordinator stressed that conflicts can be resolved peacefully and that violence is never an acceptable solution, encouraging couples to prioritize their relationships and seek help when needed.
She emphasized that the incident is a stark reminder of the need for effective measures to prevent domestic violence.
Kpakol added that there is the need for support and protection for victims of domestic violence, encouraging individuals to speak out and seek help when experiencing abuse or violence.
