A Nigerian woman living abroad has sparked heated reactions online after revealing how her estranged husband resurfaced with a transfer of ₦7.9 million—the exact amount she had spent over the years on their children’s education—only to follow it with an action that ended in the arrest of her parents.
The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed for safety reasons, said the man had abandoned her and their children for six years without financial or emotional support. She claimed she struggled through those years, working multiple jobs to keep the children in school and maintain their welfare, with zero contact or contribution from the father.
According to her narration shared anonymously on social media platform Diary of a Naija Mum, the ex-husband suddenly reached out and requested a breakdown of all she had spent on the children since he left. Days later, he wired ₦7.9 million into her Nigerian account, matching the total amount she had documented.
Rather than thanking him, the woman said she proceeded to block him entirely from all forms of communication, explaining that the payment did not erase six years of abandonment, suffering, and emotional trauma. Her decision triggered the man’s fury, leading him to retaliate by filing a police report that resulted in the arrest of her elderly parents in Nigeria.
The man allegedly accused the woman of emotional manipulation and financial coercion, claiming he sent the money under the belief that reconciliation was possible. However, local authorities reportedly questioned the legality of arresting her parents over a private financial issue between former spouses.
Human rights activists and legal experts have since weighed in, calling the arrest a gross abuse of power. “The woman didn’t commit a crime by blocking her ex. The arrest of her parents is an intimidation tactic and possibly unlawful,” said barrister Afolake Ogundipe, who spoke to Legal Lens Africa.
The story has gone viral across platforms, triggering public outrage and renewed discussions around toxic co-parenting, gender power dynamics, and misuse of police influence in domestic disputes. As the woman fights to secure her parents’ release, thousands have rallied behind her using hashtags like #FreeHerParents, #CoParentingJustice, and #SayNoToAbuseOfPower.
