Two widows, Mrs. Joy Azuka, 28, and Mrs. Favour Azuka, 34, have appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene in the alleged killing and burial of their husband, Mr. Sunday Azuka, in Obagie N' Evbousa community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The widows made the appeal while staging a protest at the secretariat of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Friday, October 30, 2026. They alleged that their husband and two others were killed and buried alive on November 4, 2024.
According to the widows, their husband, a bricklayer, was working in Obagie community with his colleagues when he was attacked and killed by armed men allegedly loyal to Uyi Igiebor. Favour Azuka said she received a phone call from a concerned citizen about the incident, and with the help of a policeman, they went to the location to make arrests. However, the policeman was also shot and survived with severe injuries. The widows said their husband left behind two sons, Godsent Azuka, 6, and Godspower Azuka, 7, who have stopped going to school since their father's death.
The widows accused thugs allegedly loyal to Uyi Igiebor of being responsible for the killing of their husband. They claimed that one of the suspects confessed to killing and burying the victims alive and that arrests were later made. However, they alleged that some persons in government are working to secure the release of the suspect allegedly linked to the killing. The suspect had offered the family N500,000 as compensation for the death of their husband and for the upkeep of the children, but the family rejected the offer.
Joy Azuka alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, through the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City, later issued an arrest warrant for Uyi Igiebor. She said one of the suspects who had confessed to partaking in the crime is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS. However, their efforts to reach the government for intervention have continued to fail, as several visits to Mr. Paul Akhere, the Special Adviser on Security to the Edo Governor, proved abortive.
Paul Akhere, the Special Adviser to Governor Okpebholo on Security, said he was familiar with the incident. Akhere said Uyi Igiebor had been arrested and that the killing was connected to a leadership tussle over who should become the youth chairman of the community. He said N2 million was agreed upon as compensation for the family. Akhere's statement suggests that the government is aware of the incident and is taking steps to address it.
The widows' appeal to Governor Okpebholo for justice highlights the need for the government to take concrete actions to address the issue of violence and killings in Edo State. The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of citizens and the need for effective law enforcement. The government's response to the incident will be crucial in determining whether justice will be served for the deceased and his family.
The case has also brought to the fore the issue of compensation for victims of violence and their families. The N500,000 offered by the suspect and the N2 million agreed upon by the government as compensation raise questions about the adequacy of compensation for victims of violence. The incident has also highlighted the need for the government to provide support to families of victims of violence and ensure that justice is served.
Key points
- The widows have appealed to Governor Okpebholo to intervene in the alleged killing and burial of their husband.
- The incident is connected to a leadership tussle over who should become the youth chairman of the community.
- Uyi Igiebor has been arrested in connection with the killing.
