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By Uwem Offon
It began as a misunderstanding within a young marriage. Yet, what should have been resolved with dialogue, patience, and forgiveness ended in flames. A promising military officer, barely five months into matrimony, was set ablaze by God knows who and consumed in a violence so irredeemable that it destroyed more than just one life.
His death was not his alone; it was the death of a family’s future, the burial of hope, and the silent slaughter of countless destinies connected to his existence.
The ripples of his tragic end were merciless. His parents, once proud and hopeful, were slain in spirit long before their bodies would follow. Dependents who looked to him as a destiny helper found their dreams shattered, their lives stranded in bitterness.
His in-laws, once highly respected, now stagger under the heavy burden of stigma and whispers of generational curses. A proud dynasty has been bruised, its name dragged through the mud, its future clouded with suspicion and fear.
Even the seemingly insignificant have not escaped the loss. The akara woman in the mami market mourns the disappearance of her loyal customer. Students and youths who depended on his mentorship and assistance are left hopeless.
Families who found solace in his generosity now stare into emptiness. A single act of unrestrained anger has robbed an entire community of its helper, its comforter, its light.
And here lies the hard truth: anger is more tormenting than the peace of forgiveness. Anger breeds wars, devastations, and irreparable sorrow.
What drives a person to set another ablaze worse still, a spouse once called the “bone of my bone, the love of my youth”? How does affection curdle into brutality? No wonder the scriptures declare: “The heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things.”
We must stop underestimating the power of peace, trust, and communication in marriage. Without these pillars, homes collapse into war zones, where suspicion reigns, resentment festers, and children become silent casualties. Domestic violence is not just a private matter it is a social tragedy, a communal wound, and a national loss.
This is why advocates for peace, responsible parenting, and blissful matrimony must arise. Too many wait for donor funding before lifting their voices. Too many remain passive observers while homes burn.
Advocacy must move from commentary to courageous action. Communities must be equipped with skills for conflict resolution, counseling, and forgiveness. Couples must be taught that silence is not peace, and anger is never victory.
This tragedy should not remain just another story whispered in hushed tones. It must be a clarion call a call for society to reject violence, to defend the sanctity of marriage, and to give peace a fighting chance.
We cannot remain indifferent while destinies are snuffed out by anger. The blood of the innocent cries out against our silence. If we do not rise now, more lives will be lost, more homes will be destroyed, and more reputations ruined. Let us choose peace over rage, forgiveness over revenge, and life over death.
Dr. Offon sent in this piece from Uyo
