Members of the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command, are currently investigating a case of homicide involving the murder of a man and his wife, at Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area of the State.
The RELIANCE investigation revealed that Mr. Sunday Ifada Okojie and his wife, were allegedly brutally killed by one Mr. Anthony Okojie, who’s a brother to Mr. Sunday Ifada Okojie.
It was learnt that both brothers had serious disagreement over family properties left behind by their late father.
It was further gathered that the two brothers had dragged themselves to the Elders Council of the community for settlement of who will inherit the properties, which include a house and a farm land.
But in the wisdom of the Elders who relied on Esan traditions, in January, 2015, resolved the family inheritance dispute between the two brothers in favour Mr. Sunday Ifada Okojie, being the first son of their late father.
Unfortunately, the decision of the Elders dissatisfied Mr. Anthony Okojie, who right there at the meeting with the community Elders, allegedly boasted openly that if the matter was not resolved in his favour, he would eliminate his senior brother, Mr. Sunday Ifada Okojie, to reclaim the family properties to himself.
But his threats were taken with a pitch of salt, until few weeks later when he allegedly in company of others yet to be identified persons went in broad daylight to the house of Mr. Sunday Ifada Okojie and did not only killed him but also killed his wife.
According to one of the Elders in the community, Elder Oriafo Ebalunegbe,
“Ebhebe Ewoiyi, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the State, had always been peaceful until that fateful day when the unexpected happened.
“It was on 19th February, 2015, when one Anthony Okojie, took the laws into his hands and murdered his senior brother and his wife over family inheritance. The husband and wife were having quiet time in their inherited house with each other when without warning his brother and brother-in- law to the woman struck and killed them in cold blood.
“After allegedly committing the crime, he ran away. But he has since been arrested by the men and officers of the Nigeria Police in Edo State.
“Our worries now is that Mr. Anthony Okojie, had vowed to eliminate any blood family of his late brother, especially his children. Now for fear of being killed like their father and mother, the children have ran away from the community for their lives because even though the culprit has been apprehended by the Police, we all know that he didn’t act alone and therefore the other suspects may still strike at any time.
“More worrisome is the fact that the first son of the murdered Sunday Ifada Okojie, Evans Ifada Okojie who’s supposed to take over from his father is nowhere to be found as he has also ran from the community for his life.
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