Anambra Man Murders His Brother’s Wife Over Property Ownership

Mr George Okoye, an Anambra native from Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area, has reportedly murdered his younger brother’s wife over a long-lasting dispute over property ownership.

George allegedly brought his wife and children into the compound of his brother, Mr Emenike Okoye, to beat him and his wife, Mrs Nkiru Okoye, who died as a result of the attack.

Emenike, who survived, suffered a broken hand, a fractured waist, and an injured eye and is currently recovering in the hospital.

The battered man, who spoke to the media from his hospital bed, recounted the incident that resulted in the death of his wife on July 19 in tears, claiming that his brother and the thugs he brought only left him because they believed he was dead.

The whereabouts of the perpetrator’s wife, Mrs Uzonna Okoye, twin daughters, and son, Somtochukwu Okoye, who also took part in the assault, remains unknown despite the fact that the suspect, Mr George Okoye, has been detained and is in police custody.

Narrating the incident which lead to his wife’s death, Mr Emenike said, “We did not do anything. I was preparing for work that day, and my wife was preparing the children for school and to also travel home for a meeting in Abba, Njikoka Local Government Area, where she is from, when George and his wife, Uzonna, and their son, Somtochukwu and twin daughters invaded my house around 7 am to 8 am.

“They overpowered us, beat us to stupor, and left. Later when my children have gone to school, they returned with some persons and dangerous weapons, including an axe.

“They dragged my wife outside the house, hit and killed her with axe and chair. She fell and died. When I resisted their move to drag me outside too, they broke my hand with an axe, dragged me outside; hitting me with the axe all over my body until I passed out.

“You can see the cut on my eyes. They left me, thinking that I was also dead. But God helped me to wake up later. I reported the incident to our local vigilante and they drove me to hospital.”

He pleaded for assistance as well as punishment against his elder brother, who he claimed had been at odds with the family over the property for years.

He said, “George right from when our mother (Mrs Adaoba Okoye) was alive, said he is our landlord. He is not our firstborn, yet he claims ownership of the entire compound and always fights with all of us.

“I lived and worked overseas, but when the company where I was working folded, I returned home. We had our first three children overseas, and our last two here (Ogbunike).

“My wife has nothing to do with this. Why kill her for nothing? After we returned home trouble started. The crisis led to the death of our mother and our eldest brother. He reported us to the kindred, and our property was shared, with him taking the larger part. I took mine without complaining. Later, he started laying claims to my house.

“He reported me to our kindred but it was settled to my favour. He disagreed and kept on troubling me. When I laid dwarf perimeter fence, he pulled it down, and even reported me to the kindred.”

Tochukwu Ikenga, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed that he was aware of the occurrence and that an inquiry into it had already begun and was still ongoing.