I have always felt there was more to Maryam Sanda's case. I thrashed her case objectively after the murder and got a backlash. I know some women are evil, yet I felt women just don't kill spouses & heartlessly stab the father of their child moreso when there is no monetary gain.
According to the law a crime can be either Mallum probihita ie because it is wrong in the society or Mallum in se ie The act itself is evil.
Murdering Bilyaminu falls into both categories, it is an evil & prohibited act punishable by very stiff penalties globally.
Murdering Bilyaminu falls into both categories, it is an evil & prohibited act punishable by very stiff penalties globally.
There is also what is referred to as a motive, I am no lawyer but as a teacher journalist we know a little of every trade. I cannot understand Maryam's motive for the murder which may categorise it as a spontaneous act of homicide. No less punishable due to the sacredness of life
The only allowance for Sanda is self defence or provocation over the years. We can only hope the learned judge exhausted all this before sentencing.
My only fear is our society excuses self defence but we all know doesn't aknowledge emotional abuse nor mental health challenges.
My only fear is our society excuses self defence but we all know doesn't aknowledge emotional abuse nor mental health challenges.
Hauwa, Asiya we understand your journey, which is the silent journey of millions of Nigerian women who don't want to speak up for fear of being labelled uncouth & defiant.
Our marital and social system is that which the needs of the woman are undermined.
Our marital and social system is that which the needs of the woman are undermined.
Most women at some times in our lives have felt disrespected, undermined & exploited. The terrible part of it is the fact that neither the husband nor the society feels he is doing anything wrong or there is a cause for concern. This is the society we have found ourselves in.
Provocation and mental health challenge is real.
I have seen clear cases of depression passed of as jinn in our societies. Most are women who want to be listened to and resort to drama to get out of precarious situations that will otherwise be passed off as nothing.
I have seen clear cases of depression passed of as jinn in our societies. Most are women who want to be listened to and resort to drama to get out of precarious situations that will otherwise be passed off as nothing.
So long the north is unwilling to change its stance towards marriage, divorce & perception of the roles & utopian responsibilities of the wife, this is not the last scary episode of husband stabbing we will hear of in this day of codien/sisha no matter how many Sanda's are hanged
Few of us attempt to give Sanda the credit of doubt, or understand what may have precipitated her actions. It will always be speculation, the words of others, her own line of defence & Bilyaminu's silence for dead people don't talk against the actual reality of that marriage.
May Allah in His infinite wisdom have mercy on the souls of Bilyaminu, Maryam, the kids' us & our descendants.
May Allah always give us the strength to overpower our inner demons, to change the things we can, accept those we cannot change & the wisdom to know the difference.
May Allah always give us the strength to overpower our inner demons, to change the things we can, accept those we cannot change & the wisdom to know the difference.
