A 39-year-old victim of domestic violence in Monrovia says she fears for her life as her husband is in the constant habit of battering and maltreating her, even in the presence of their children, family, and community members.
Madam Sylvester said, with the brutal behavior of her husband, she fears that she and her children are in grave danger and wants the urgent intervention of national and international human rights institutions, civil society organizations, as well as the government, to intervene in her case.
“I have been living in hell for a good portion of my life because of my children and I cannot bear anymore. I fear that one day he could kill me and my children. So, I want all those concerned to please come to my aid,” she said.
The victim is married to Nigerian businessman, Sylvester Ambrose, who runs a provision shop on the Jamaica Road on the Bushrod Island.
In tears and with bruises and some bodily injuries, the victim reported to this paper that she is on the run for a safe haven with the three children from the marriage, because Sylvester Ambrose continues to pursue her with alarming threats.
She said, “For the past three months, he stopped feeding me and his children because I told him that the L$500 he was giving was not even sufficient to give one day lunch money for the children in school, before feeding the entire family.”
She explained that on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, during the night hours, Sylvester brutally beat on her in the presence of their children and community members for going to the house where they both live along with their three children to collect some belongings, since she had decided to seek refuge with some friends.
According to her, the situation had been reported by her to family, community people, and some of his friends from Nigeria, who, in her view, could help with interventions, but the alleged perpetrator always presents an innocent posture to deceive those wanting to intervene in the matter.
“And this is where I don’t get it. He’s always presenting himself like an innocent person, so, everyone is thinking that I am the problem person, and this is dangerous for me and my children,” she said.
The victim disclosed that before she started experiencing the violence masterminded by Sylvester, she used to work and provide for her home, but now that she ran out of a job, the man sees and describes her as a liability to him and his business.
She explained that Ambrose Sylvester now has an extra-marital affair with another lady in the community that his family and others related to him are aware of, which she thinks is a force behind his action to continuously beat on her and starve their children.
“My husband is in the constant habit of beating me and threatening to kill me. When I tell people in the community to help me intervene, he will kneel down begging and promising that it will never happen again, but now I am in fear for my life, that is why I am seeking intervention,” the victim averred.
She further asserted that up to press time, places she passes the nights are changed and remain undisclosed because Sylvester is in search for her daily to ensure that she is taken back home with the children to reportedly continue his actions against her.
“Tuesday night, the place I slept is not the place I will sleep again, because he came there the next morning and collected one of the children and took them with him. He wants me to go to the house so that he can continue to beat on me every day and night,” she said.
When contacted by this paper, Ambrose denied ever assaulting his wife and described her as a perfect woman who God has given him.
He said, “My wife and I only got into a misunderstanding recently and had a little fight. It was nothing serious, but the usual marital jealousy. We went to the police and it was settled and we came home.”
According to him, he has allegedly lived with the woman in question for over 16 years and together, they have three children, denying the allegation of an extra marital affair, noting, “I only have one relationship and it is my wife.”
