Nigerian Woman Dies 11 Months Into Marriage, Leaves Behind Diary and 600 Screenshots Exposing Husband’s Affair, Abuse

A Nigerian woman, Doosuur Henrietta Agbatar, who died just eleven months into her marriage, has left behind disturbing evidence pointing to a turbulent and abusive relationship. Her passing on July 31, 2025, is now at the centre of growing controversy following revelations from family, friends, and colleagues.

According to a petition filed by her family and documents obtained by Premium Times, Henrietta had been struggling with chest pains for about a week before her death. On the evening she died, she reportedly pleaded with her husband, Sefa Awen, to take her to a hospital just 600 metres from her workplace in Makurdi. Witnesses allege he instead drove her home, dismissing her health complaints. By the time she was eventually brought to a hospital, medical staff confirmed she had been dead for some time.

Her brother, Barrister Joe Agbatar, alleged in a Facebook post that she died of heart failure brought on by prolonged abuse and betrayal. The family further accused Mr. Awen of financial exploitation, claiming he sold their mother’s SUV, diverted N4 million from the family NGO, pressured Henrietta to step down as its executive director, and subjected her to repeated psychological and physical abuse.

Adding to the controversy, her close friend, Shamini Anase, has now shared over 600 screenshots of intimate WhatsApp chats between Mr. Awen and a woman identified as Loveth, who was also part of their wedding party. Shamini alleged that the affair between the pair began before the wedding and continued throughout the marriage. Henrietta reportedly discovered the chats after cloning her husband’s WhatsApp and left behind the screenshots as evidence, alongside more than 30 pages of her diary documenting abuse, neglect, and infidelity.

Friends and colleagues described a marriage marked by control, humiliation, and betrayal. Accounts suggest Mr. Awen openly flaunted his relationship with other women, dismissed Henrietta’s health concerns, and attempted to seize control of her family’s organisation. In one alleged incident, he told staff that he had “gone for the boss and now had her in his pocket.”

Henrietta’s diary, which friends vow to publish, reportedly contains accounts of both her deteriorating health and the abuse she endured. It also reveals her plans to end the marriage and pursue studies abroad before her sudden death.

Friends now insist her passing cannot be separated from the exploitation and emotional trauma she endured. Shamini’s post accused Sefa and his alleged lover of destroying the marriage, stating that Henrietta developed high blood pressure only months after her wedding due to the distress of discovering the affair.

The Agbatar family has called for justice, alleging that their daughter’s death was not only tragic but preventable. They accuse the Awen family of shielding Sefa while ignoring the abuse Henrietta endured. Meanwhile, Henrietta’s friends continue to release portions of the chats and diary, saying they will not allow her story to be buried with her.

The case has sparked outrage online, with many calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.