When Did Love Turn to Ashes? A Cry Against Domestic Violence

As I sit to pen down these words, my heart is heavy with grief and outrage. The media space in Nigeria is awash with tales that should never exist.

Husbands burning their wives alive. Beating them to death. Viral videos showing women being brutalized by the very men who once vowed to protect them.

This is not just news, it’s a horror story that reflects how deeply flawed our society has become.

In one of the most recent and shocking incidents, a man set his wife ablaze, reducing her to ashes over mere suspicions.

(Viewers Discretion)

This isn’t just an act of violence, it’s the ultimate betrayal of humanity. How did we get here? How did we create a society where a man could even conceive of such cruelty against the person he once called his partner?

This is not just another story of domestic violence, this is a call to action. It’s a cry for every woman who has been silenced, every mother who has been beaten, and every daughter who fears becoming a victim tomorrow.

A society where such acts are becoming common is one that is not only failing its women but also dooming its future.

When a man sees his wife as an equal partner, beating or brutalizing her would never cross his mind.

A wife is not property, She is not an object to vent frustrations upon. She is a human being, deserving of love, respect, and dignity.

But how do we explain this to men raised in a culture that subtly teaches them otherwise? A culture that normalizes patriarchy, that dismisses violence as “family issues,” that looks the other way when bruises tell stories words cannot?

The silence surrounding these atrocities is deafening. Our refusal to address domestic violence with the urgency it demands only emboldens perpetrators.

Each time we shrug off these incidents as “personal matters” or “isolated cases,” we give abusers the green light to strike again.

Silence is complicity. Ignoring these crimes allows a dangerous precedent to fester. It teaches the next generation that violence is permissible, that power is control, and that love can coexist with cruelty.

What kind of future are we building for our children when we allow such horrors to persist unchecked?

We need more than outrage, we need action. This war against domestic violence begins with education. We must teach our boys that strength lies in compassion, not dominance. We must empower our girls to speak out, to leave abusive environments, and to demand respect.

Government intervention is also crucial. Stronger laws, effective enforcement, and swift justice are non-negotiable.Policies that protect women and provide safe havens for victims must become a priority. 

But beyond laws, we need a societal shift, one that dismantles toxic masculinity, fosters gender equality, and encourages mutual respect in relationships.

When we allow violence to thrive, we are not just failing today’s victims, we are endangering tomorrow’s children.

Imagine the trauma of a child who witnesses their mother being beaten or burned. What does that child grow up to believe about love, family, and conflict? By failing to act, we are sowing seeds of pain that will bloom for generations.

To every woman suffering in silence, know that you are not alone. Your pain is seen, your voice matters, and your story deserves justice.

To every man who believes love is control, know that love is partnership, not punishment. And to every one of us, remember, change begins with you and me.

This is not just a fight against domestic violence, it is a fight for the soul of our society. We owe it to ourselves, to our daughters, and to our sons to ensure that love never turns to ashes again.

Let us speak out. Let us act. Let us heal.