InA quiet corner of Akufo, a community in Oyo State’s Ido Local Government Area, a marriage gone wrong has left a family reeling in pain and desperation. The story of Mr. Lekan Adedeji, 49, and his wife, Zainab, 44, is one of prolonged domestic violence, unmet hopes, and a tragic end that has left their three surviving children grappling with the harsh realities of life.
The Adedejis had been married for over 25 years, but their union was marked by recurrent bouts of violence. According to family members, the couple’s struggles were compounded by a hidden health crisis – they were both carriers of the sickle cell trait, a fact they discovered only after their children began showing symptoms of the disease.
“We didn’t know our genotype status until our children started falling ill,” said Morufat Ashake, Zainab’s younger sister, who has taken custody of the surviving children. “The man kept insisting she should continue giving birth, knowing the risks. He frequently beat her. The level of violence was extreme.”
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The couple lost three children to complications associated with sickle cell disorder, but the surviving three – Rashida, 20 (SS), Folawe, 17 (AS), and Folahanmi, six (AS) – require constant medical attention.
The events leading to the tragic end began in December when Lekan called Zainab, asking her to collect money for their daughter’s WAEC fees. She went with two of their children, and that’s when the nightmare unfolded. Ashake alleges that Lekan attacked Zainab with acid and, in a shocking turn of events, drank the substance himself.
Despite efforts to save them, Zainab succumbed to her injuries on January 23, and Lekan died shortly after. The family spent over N4 million on Zainab’s treatment before her death.
The children are now left to grapple with the trauma of losing both parents. “We lost our mum and our dad. We are in so much pain, and now there is nobody to take care of us,” said Rashida, the eldest.
The family is appealing for help to meet the children’s medical and educational needs. Those willing to assist can contact them via 08086500527 or contribute to Access Bank Account Number 1658068176, Titilayo Iyabo Samukoro (mother of the deceased).