Mrs Igiebor, the Nigerian woman who recently made headlines for tearing her husband’s passport at Lagos Airport, has broken her silence, revealing the motivations behind her controversial actions. Known for her presence on TikTok, where she shares content about her family life, Igiebor opened up in a video posted on Monday, offering her side of the story amid widespread public outrage.
In the emotional video, Igiebor explained that the incident was the culmination of long-standing family issues that began before they returned to Nigeria from Europe.
She expressed deep frustration and pain, stating, “This issue has been going on for a long time. I had to do what I did. Don’t just look at my actions alone—I’m not a mad woman. I’ve gone through so much. I have my reasons.”
Reflecting on her decision to destroy the passport in Nigeria rather than in Europe, Igiebor added, “What if I had done this in Europe, where we came from? I didn’t want him to go through more stress, which is why I did it in Nigeria. So many people at the airport that day saw me acting out. It has always been a family issue. My husband can’t even talk about it. I suffered with him, and just like that, his family wants my suffering to be for nothing.”
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Igiebor candidly admitted that her primary reason for tearing the passport was to prevent her husband from returning to Europe, saying, “To be sincere, I did it so my husband would not return to Europe. I have gone through pain. Many don’t know what I’m going through. My husband bought me an iPhone to calm me, but this has been going on for years. He knows I haven’t forgotten; I’m just pretending to have moved past it.”
Amid the backlash, Igiebor apologised to Nigerians who were angered by her actions, as well as to the Nigerian Immigration Service. She further accused her husband of neglecting her in favour of his family, describing him as “a mother’s boy, his sister’s and brother’s best brother,” leaving her to bear the brunt of their marital challenges. “I did what I did for him to understand that I’ve been enduring the pain,” she emphasised.
For those calling for her arrest, Igiebor responded defiantly, saying, “Those of you calling for my arrest should come and hold me responsible. I cry every time after having three kids. They should let me reap what I have sown with him. My husband should come out and say what happened.”
Although Igiebor did not provide specific details about the events leading up to the passport’s destruction, she alluded to unresolved family issues as the driving force behind her actions.
Igiebor’s outburst reportedly occurred shortly after the couple arrived at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on Saturday, August 10, 2024. In the viral video, a visibly agitated Igiebor, when confronted about her actions, retorted, “Is it your passport?”
In response to the incident, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has initiated a formal investigation. In a statement released on Sunday, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Udo, confirmed the probe, stating, “The Nigeria Immigration Service has launched a formal investigation following the circulation of a video on social media, showing a female traveller destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.”
The NIS also noted that Igiebor’s actions could constitute a violation of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), which prohibits the willful destruction of Nigerian travel documents. The act outlines specific penalties for such offences, and the NIS emphasised its commitment to strictly enforcing the Immigration Act to safeguard national security and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s legal and diplomatic instruments.
I tore my husband's international passport because I didn't want him to go back abroad — Woman who tore her husband's International passport continues explainingpic.twitter.com/kL2bohrsaq
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) August 12, 2024
