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A 34-year-old Nigerian man has shared a heartbreaking account of how his once-promising life has spiralled into distress just two years after marriage, as he battles overwhelming financial pressure, family conflict and emotional exhaustion.
In a deeply emotional narration, the man revealed that his struggles began long before marriage. At just 20 years old, he lost his father and was forced to abandon his university education to support his widowed mother and three younger siblings. Determined to keep the family afloat, he took on every menial job he could find. Years of sacrifice and hard work eventually paid off.
By the age of 25, he had saved enough to start a small electronics business. Over the next seven years, the business grew beyond his expectations. He became financially stable, acquiring three houses and three luxury cars. His success brought hope not just to him, but to his entire family.
Encouraged by his mother to settle down, he met a 25-year-old woman he described as “very beautiful.” Their relationship moved quickly. After just three months of dating, he visited her parents to formally declare his intentions. According to him, the meeting came with clear conditions.
“They told me their daughter was their prize,” he said. “She was reserved for a wealthy man who could take full responsibility for their entire family.”
Confident in his financial standing at the time, he agreed. The marriage was celebrated, but what followed, he said, marked the beginning of his downfall.
Just six months after the wedding, his wife’s two sisters moved into his home. Shortly after, when his wife became pregnant, her parents and other siblings also moved in, claiming they wanted to support her during pregnancy. Two years later, the situation has not changed.
“My son is now two years old, and her entire family is still living in my house,” he lamented. “I pay huge bills daily and I’m constantly giving out money. There is no peace in my home.”
The man said the situation became even more painful when his wife began preventing his own family from visiting. According to him, she insists the house is “too full” and that his mother and siblings can only come when her family leaves — something that has never happened.
Whenever he raises the issue of his in-laws moving out, he says his wife becomes hostile and threatens to end the marriage.
The situation reached a breaking point recently when his mother-in-law demanded money for an expensive mobile phone. When he explained that his business was struggling, he was allegedly insulted.
“She told me that if I wasn’t ready to handle their needs, I should have left her daughter for the richer man they planned for her,” he said.
Behind the scenes, his financial empire is collapsing. He revealed that his business is failing and that he was recently forced to sell one of his houses just to raise capital. His long-term dream of sponsoring his own siblings to travel abroad has faded, as his resources are consumed by the constant demands of his in-laws.
“In just two years, I’ve become a shadow of myself,” he said. “I’m physically and emotionally exhausted. My own family has stopped calling me. I feel trapped and completely alone.”
The man’s story has sparked intense reactions online, with many Nigerians describing his experience as a cautionary tale about unequal marriages, unhealthy family boundaries, and financial exploitation. Others have called for open communication, counselling, and firm boundaries, warning that continued silence could lead to total emotional and financial collapse.
As the man pleads for guidance, his story highlights a broader issue faced by many spouses who find themselves overwhelmed by extended family expectations, struggling to balance love, responsibility and self-preservation.
