26-Year-Old Woman Alleges Domestic Abuse, Assault By Children’s Father, Family In Delta

A 26-year-old woman, Favour Kalamatoro, has accused her boyfriend and members of his family of repeated physical assault, domestic violence and child neglect in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Kalamatoro, an Urhobo indigene from the Obiayagha area of Ughelli South, told SaharaReporters that she was attacked by her children’s father, Ikovie Odephiare; his mother, Mrs Ikovie Ekaete; elder brother Ikovie Etabunor and other relatives after she visited their home to check on her two children.

The woman, who has two children, a four-year-old boy and a seven-month-old baby girl, rwith the man, alleged that she had endured years of abuse, abandonment and hardship, which forced her into street begging and menial work to survive.

According to her, the violence began while she was pregnant with her second child.

“I was physically assaulted by my children’s father, his mother and his elder brother, all because I went to visit my kids,” she said.

She alleged that during her pregnancy, she was subjected to verbal abuse, starvation and physical violence.

“The abuse started when I was seven months pregnant and living in his house,” she said. “He would insult me, beat me and starve me, forcing me to go out and beg for food while I was pregnant.”

Kalamatoro alleged that when she was eight months pregnant, she was beaten so severely that she lost consciousness.

“He beat me until I fainted, threw me out of the house and locked the door,” she said. “Neighbours rushed me to a clinic, and I almost lost my baby. I survived, but the next day, the beatings continued.”

Unable to endure the abuse any longer, she said she left the house with her first child and began hawking sachet water to survive.

“I packed my things and left with my four-year-old son. I started selling ‘pure’ water just to feed us,” she said.

She further alleged that after giving birth to her second child, the children’s father and his family abandoned her completely.

“When I delivered my baby, they did not come to see me,” Kalamatoro said. “My father and siblings paid all the hospital bills and took care of me and my two children.”

According to her, although the man later promised to take responsibility for the children, he failed to honour his commitment.

“Six months later, he came with a friend and told my father he would take care of the children and pay the hospital bills, but he never did,” she said.

She alleged that when she later asked for help to buy baby food and diapers, she was insulted and threatened.

“He told me not to ask him for anything and said if I was tired, I should give the children to him,” she said. “Later, he told me never to contact him again because he wanted to start a new life and family, while we had nothing to eat.”

Kalamatoro also alleged that efforts to seek police intervention yielded little result.

“I once involved the Nigerian police in Warri so he could write an undertaking to support the first child,” she said. “He only sent ₦15,000 once and then told me I could do my worst, that he was not afraid of the police or anybody.”

She claimed that years of dependence left her without skills or a means of livelihood.

“He left me handicapped,” she said. “I had no handwork, no skills and no business to fall back on. The little business I had was ruined because he kept borrowing money from me.”

Out of frustration and desperation, Kalamatoro said she took the children to their grandmother’s house for care.

“I transported the children to their father’s mother’s house and begged her to feed them. She agreed,” she said.

However, she alleged that when she returned to visit her children on Monday, January 10, 2026, she was violently attacked.

“When I went to see my children, their father, his mother and elder brother gathered and beat me,” she said. “They punched me, flogged me with a cane and a shovel, and damaged my phone. I sustained bruises on my mouth and all over my body.”

The allegations raise serious concerns about domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.

“This is my story,” she said. “I am seeking urgent help to protect myself and my children.”

Meanwhile, efforts by SaharaReporters to reach Mr. Ikovie Odephiare were unsuccessful, as his phones have reportedly been switched off.

This follows reports that Odephiare disabled his mobile lines after the alleged assault, which left the victim with physical bruising on her face, mouth, and body.

Favour disclosed that she had reported the incident to the police. However, before officers could arrive to effect an arrest, Mrs. Ekaete reportedly fled with her children.

According to Favour, "the police later contacted the children’s father by telephone and requested that he present himself at the station, but he claimed he was out of town."

She added that "when officers proceeded to his mother’s shop, they discovered it had been abandoned," alleging that he had instructed his mother to flee with the children ahead of their arrival.