The Secretary of Akwa Ibom State Gender Based Violence management committee, Barr Emem Ette has advised couples against involvement in infidelity issues saying it could result in increased cases of spousal attacks or death.
Ette who is a director in Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice overseeing GBV response department pointed out spouses who cheat might be doing so with ulterior motives, she said the best decision should not be to cheat back.
Apparently reacting to the scandal involving a top Equatorial Guinean official who is alleged to have had affairs with as many as 400 women some of whom were said to be married, she advised couples to learn to walk away from toxic relationships including marriages.
Posting on social media handle, she noted that cheaters should also be wary of Sexually Trabsmutted Diseases.
According to her, “a cheater has a point to prove to himself/herself” adding that “whatever it is, they do not care if they hurt themselves or their spouses in the quest to prove that point.”
“If your spouse cheats, don’t cheat back. Cheating back is bringing yourself down to their level.
“If you can stay and tolerate their excesses, fine, but beware of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
” If you cannot stay, leave. You don’t owe anyone any explanation if you leave but yourself.
“It is better to leave than to build up resentment that may end in your killing your spouse or yourself.”
“Having said that, stop cheating, ” she added.
Akwa Ibom State is said to have recorded over 1467 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence since 2021 when the unit was set up.
A breakdown shows 401 were cases of rape, 118 attempted cases of rape and 53 cases of harmful widowhood practices
Others include 520 cases of spousal battery and 53 cases of abandonment of dependents among other cases including incest, physical abuse and stalking.
A person who is convicted of rape faces a life in prison according to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2020.