BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, AUGUST 17, 2025 | 07:15 PM

The North-East, long associated with insurgency and armed conflict, is now witnessing a different and deeply unsettling wave of violence, this time within homes and communities.

Recent events reveal that beyond the battlefield, private disputes are spiraling into extreme and often unimaginable acts.

The most shocking among them occurred recently in Bama, Borno State, where a man identified as Modu Isa attempted to take his life in an unprecedented manner.

Stricken with despair over his wife’s refusal to return home, Isa reportedly severed his own genitals after stabbing himself.

He was rescued by locals and rushed to a hospital where doctors battled to save him.

Medical sources suggest that surgeons attempted to reattach the severed organ, making this the first documented case of self-inflicted genital mutilation in the entire North-East region.

Other rare domestic violence cases in the region

While Isa’s case is unprecedented, other disturbing acts of domestic violence have also been reported across North-East states:

Yobe State: In Babangida, Tarmuwa LGA, police arrested a man who allegedly hacked his wife to death with a machete during a domestic quarrel.

Adamawa State (Yola South): A 56-year-old man, Aminu Abubakar, was taken into custody after he allegedly beat his 38-year-old wife, Fadinatu, to death with a hard object when she attempted to leave their abusive marriage.

Adamawa State (Hong LGA): Police arrested a 36-year-old man who disguised himself with a face mask to rape his neighbour’s wife.

The victim recognized him despite his disguise, and he is now facing prosecution.

Adamawa State (Demsa): Three local hunters and a woman were arrested after tying a 14-year-old boy to a tree, starving him, and torturing him with petrol and local gin (“ogogoro”) over an alleged ₦21,000 theft.

Patterns of violence

Unlike insurgency-related killings, these incidents stem from domestic disputes, jealousy, suspicion, or punishment for alleged wrongdoing.

Analysts warn that while they appear isolated, their brutality reflects deeper societal issues—ranging from poor anger management to systemic gender-based violence.

A 2023 research study highlighted that intimate partner violence is pervasive in the North-East, though most cases rarely escalate to such extreme levels.

A call for action

Experts and civil society groups stress the need for:

Stronger domestic violence laws and enforcement across North-East states.

Shelters and hotlines to protect vulnerable women and children.

Community sensitization to break the silence around abuse.

Mental health services for individuals in crisis, to prevent tragedies like that of Bama’s Modu Isa.

The Lake Chad Times will continue monitoring these developments, shedding light on the less-reported crises shaking the private lives of North-East residents—far beyond the shadows of insurgency.