Residents of the Okehi community in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State were bewildered on Wednesday after a woman identified as Hope Nwala bathed her husband, Ekelediri Nwankwo Nwala, with hot groundnut oil while he was asleep over an argument.

The incident followed a domestic squabble between the couple.

Mr. Nwankwo, who is battling for his life, told newsmen on Wednesday that before the incident, he had a disagreement with his wife, now at large, over his decision to send the wife’s younger sister away from the house.

According to him, his sister-in-law was disrespectful and dressed indecently, prompting his decision to send her packing out of the house.

He added that his wife, who disagreed with his decision, attacked him and bathed him with hot oil while he was asleep.

“I had told my wife’s younger sister to leave my house because of the way she has started dressing, and the way she occupies my matrimonial bed even when I am around.

“No young guy will tolerate such behaviour, but my wife has refused the younger sister to leave the house.

“I also saw my wife alone with one tall black guy in the shop I rented for her, not that he is in for business, he followed my wife and sister here and there, with all these, I gave that her younger sister two thousand naira transport to go home so that I can actually understand what is going on in my house.

“But my wife got upset; while I went to bed to sleep, she used boiled groundnut oil on me, then started hitting me with a hammer,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Rivers State Police Command proved abortive as the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, could not take her calls.