A widow, Mrs Esther Ogbonna, has demanded justice after the killing of her husband in their compound at Chris Avenue, Iwofe in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The woman, in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, alleged that her husband was killed by a neighbour over a minor issue.
She claimed that six weeks after her husband of three months was killed in her presence, the police had yet to charge the matter to court for the law to take its course.
Narrating what led to the incident, she said, “I got married on December 18, 2022, and on March 31 this year, I lost my husband after a next-door neigbhour attacked him and slit his throat with an axe in my presence.”
Mrs Ogbonna said her husband was being accused by the suspect and another tenant of finishing the water in the tank whenever they pumped water in the compound.
She added that when her husband got back from work, he overheard both men accusing him as he came into the compound and he proceeded to tell her what he heard.
“While we were having that conversation in our apartment, Harry walked into our apartment and hit my husband on the chest, saying he overheard what we were discussing. Harry then said the water my husband fetched for our house was too much for both of us.
“He then told my husband he would kill him, and we were confused on what to do with the water issue,” the widow said.
The bereaved woman said as her husband and Harry were exchanging words when Harry tore his clothes, as he ran into the room to wear another shorts.
“But this man (Harry) was hiding an axe and as my husband came out of the door, Harry cut my husband with the axe.
“My husband was kneeling and looking at his hands as blood was gushing out. He didn’t even see when Harry came again with the axe and slit his throat and dragged it open,” she added.
She said blood was all over the floor
Mrs Ogbonna said after her husband died, Harry tried to scale the fence but was held by a man who dragged him down.
The police were said to have arrested the suspect later.
She, however, said though the matter had been transferred to the SCIID, two months after, the police had yet to charge the suspect.
“I was told the case was supposed to be charged in less than a week. But this is almost two months now. I have even written a petition to the Commissioner of Police on this matter, but no response yet,” she added.
The widow alleged foul play between the Investigating Police Officer and her husband’s elder brother to deny her family justice.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
She said “The suspect is with us and will soon be charged.”
