Three brothers kill sibling over proceeds from mother’s burial

The Imo State police command yesterday said that it has arrested the ex-Director General of the Imo State Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Theophilus Okere, aged 82, who stabbed his wife, Mrs. Beatrice Okere, to death with kitchen knife at Ngor Okpala local government area of the state on Saturday.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed this in Owerri, also said that investigation has commenced as the man is now in police custody.

At the moment, no reason has been given even from the police that led to the stabbing to death incident. Just as many people have said it could be a result of marital misunderstanding.

The police said: “I can confirm the news, the man is said to be 82 years old, while the home is presently deserted. Also, it was his son that moved her from the village and that she died on the way to the hospital. The man has been arrested, he is presently in custody.”

The people of Amafor-Imerenwe community in Ngor-Okpala were at the weekend thrown into shock and mourning over the incident, which occurred after a slight provocation. The deceased, also in her 80s, was a retiree of the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo. The couple had been married for 50 years and are blessed with five children with over 15 grandchildren.

According to one of the indigenes of the community who spoke to The Guardian on the condition of anonymity, the man had developed mental illness over the years and on many occasions made attempts to kill his wife. The second son of the couple, Emma Okere, according to the source, died in February and arrangements had been concluded to have him buried on June 3.

In a related development, police operatives are on the trail of three brothers, Patrick Obieshieke, Chinonso Obieshieke and John Erieka for allegedly killing their brother, Remigius Obieshieke, over money realised from the burial of their late mother.

Remigius was brutally murdered after a disagreement erupted on how the money realised from the burial of their 75-year-old mother, Angelina Obieshieke, would be shared.

According to the state police spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, the incident happened last Friday at their father’s house in Umuolowoshe in Umuoshochie Autonomous Community in Obowo council area of Imo State.

Ikeokwu said: “On the 22/05/2020 at about 6:00a.m. upon credible information, operatives of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Obowo, moved to Umuolowoshe, Umuoshochie Autonomous community, and it was discovered that the above named persons killed one Remigius Obieshieke during a disagreement arising from money realised for the burial of their mother late Angelina Obieshieke, 75 years old.

“Meanwhile effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, while investigation has commenced in earnest.”

-Guardian