Recently, a 62-year-old woman named Beatrice Safiu, who was given a life sentence for the death of her husband, has been released from prison.
Mrs. Safiu, a mother of six, resided with her late husband, Oluwatoyin Morufu Safiu, in Igere, Ihunusa Opic Extension, Agbara, Ogun State. The incident occurred when she discovered that her husband’s mistress had given birth.
Reports suggest that she supposedly poured acid on his face while he slept and fatally assaulted him with a pestle.
After serving nine years in prison, Mrs. Safiu was granted her freedom on Saturday. This decision came about after the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, took action during the June 12th celebrations by ordering the release of 41 inmates and altering the death penalties of 45 convicts to life imprisonment.
Governor Abiodun explained that the pardoned prisoners had demonstrated remorse, acquired new skills and qualifications during their incarceration, and some had even graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria.
Reflecting on the tragic events, Mrs. Safiu told NewsNow, “It’s a case of murder. My husband intended to bring his pregnant mistress into our home, sparking a confrontation. When he tried to harm me with acid, I accidentally spilled it on him while defending myself with a pestle.”
Grateful for her release, Mrs. Safiu recounted the desperate attempts to save her husband after the incident, emphasizing the challenges faced due to the lack of medical facilities equipped to handle acid victims.
Expressing her gratitude, she credited her liberation to divine intervention and expressed her relief at the end of a trying ordeal. She also acknowledged the support from Governor Abiodun and various human rights organizations.
Furthermore, Opadeji Ayoola, the Deputy Controller of Corrections at Ibara Maximum Correction Centre, commended the governor’s initiative, asserting that it would help alleviate the overcrowding in correctional facilities. He urged the public to aid these individuals in their reintegration into society.