Veteran Nollywood actor Adeola Shoremi, popularly known as Baba Lanko, has opened up about the turbulent years he spent married to fellow entertainer, Atinuke Kazeem, widely called Mama No Network.

The pair tied the knot in 2014 in a star-studded wedding ceremony that featured Fuji legend, Pasuma Wonder. But behind the glamour, Baba Lanko claims, the union was marred by violence.

In an interview with Feelrightnews, the actor alleged that Mama No Network once attacked him with a cutlass during a quarrel, leaving him with permanent injuries.

“This is a finger injury I sustained, which left it bent, due to repeated fights with her,” he said while showing scars.

Surprisingly, Baba Lanko revealed that it was through Mama No Network that he met his current wife. According to him, she once introduced an apprentice to learn theatre arts under her, and that apprentice eventually became his partner.

“The apprentice who was brought to me by my ex-wife is currently my wife, and she has given birth to four children. We’re living fine,” he added.

Opinion: When Love Turns Sour

Baba Lanko’s revelation is a sobering reminder that glamour does not guarantee happiness in marriage. What many saw in 2014 as a fairy-tale wedding soon turned into a story of scars, survival, and a new beginning.

Violence in relationships is never excusable—whether physical, emotional, or psychological. Sadly, in our society, many victims (especially men) often shy away from speaking out due to fear of ridicule. Baba Lanko’s courage to share his experience highlights the importance of conversation around domestic violence for both genders.

Yet, this story also carries a strange twist of fate: from pain came an unexpected path to peace. Through the same woman he once accused of violence, he found a partner who now shares his life and children. Life, indeed, has a way of turning even the most broken chapters into new beginnings.

At the heart of it all, one lesson stands clear: marriage thrives not on public spectacle but on mutual respect, patience, and peace. Without these, even the grandest love stories can quickly crumble behind closed doors.