- Expresses Worries Over Safety Of Brother, Cousin.
THE Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of one Mrs Beatrice Monye Meteke who was murdered on February 14, 2024 at her residence in Emuhu, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to a Police source, one of the suspect, Mr. Chinonso Joe was arrested at Emuhu while the second suspect Mr. Daniel Sunday was trailed to Owerri in Imo State before he was arrested. Both suspects were later transferred to Delta State Police Headquarter, Asaba and have been charged to court and remanded.
The Police source revealed that one of the suspects in his confession said that they were part of the thugs involved in the communal crisis between Okoama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okoloba Community in Bomadi Local Government Area, both in Delta State.
The suspect according to Police source confessed that they were hired by some persons in Okoloba community to assassinate one Mr. Meteke Benson, a native of Emuhu in Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State, doing petty business in Okoama community.
The suspect said that some persons in Okoloba accused Mr. Meteke Benson and his cousin, Mr. Aghanti Hilary Isioma of showing solidarity with Okoama community and using his business premises as meeting point against Okoloba community.
The suspect in his confession noted that, though Mr. Meteke Benson was the prime target, the community also ask them to abduct his cousin, Mr. Aghanti Hilary Isioma who was living with Mr. Mekete Benson. He confessed that Okoloba community vowed to use Aghanti Hilary Isioma as sacrifice to their gods because he was also through his petty trade giving financial support to Okoama community against Okoloba.
The suspect confessed that, they initially abducted Aghanti Hilary Isioma, at his business place but he managed to escape from them, saying, they suspected that he must have managed to inform his brother, Mr. Mekete Benson about their coming to his house.
The suspect confessed that, they had to trail Meteke Benson down to his elder sister’s place in Emuhu after discovering that he has fled the community due to the communal crises and the earlier warning from his cousin, Aghanti Hilary Isioma. He confessed that they invaded the house of Mrs Beatrice Monye Meteke on February 14, 2024, and murder her for refusing to disclose the whereabout of her brother, Meteke Benson, and her sister’s son, Mr. Aghanti Hilary Isioma.
However, a community leader and family member of the Meteke family in Emuhu who do not want his name in print, has decried the killing of Mrs Beatrice Monye Meteke by the suspects.
According to him; “How can they just come and gruesomely murder our sister in this manner? What has she done to deserve this? Now, our two sons are nowhere to be found. We don’t know of the whereabout of Benson and his cousin Hilary at the moment, because some people from Okoloba community are still using assassins to look for them”.
While expressing worries over the disappearance and safety of Meteke Benson and his cousin, Aghanti Hilary Isioma since the murder of their sister, the community leader noted that the family is still grieving over the murder of their daughter, Mrs Beatrice Monye Meteke and are demanding justice against those that committed the crime.
Giving an update on the development, the Police noted that, a tale of bloodshed and destruction has persisted between Okoama and Okoloba communities, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake over communal and land disputes that have ravaged both communities, claiming the lives of over 30 innocent people and displacing hundreds others.
The police noted that, the crisis between the two communities is still brewing till date, while the police force is trying to forestall law and order in the two communities, the government is doing everything within its power to address issues on ground and ensure that peace return to the two communities.
The family of Mrs Beatrice Monye Meteke has confirmed that her remains have been buried in her late husband’s home at Agbor. Meanwhile, the Police source revealed that, the NPF is committed to ensuring that all those culpable in the dastard murder of Mrs Beatrice Monye Meteke and many alike, would be brought to justice swiftly and decisively. The Police source also assured that the suspects will continue to have their days in court.
