Widow hacked to death by lover’s son

By AUSTIN OGWUDA
The Police in Asaba are now interrogating two youngmen and their mother in connection with the murder, last Saturday, of their father’s alleged lover at Ubulu-Uku in Delta State.

Chuks Nzemeka (25) and Ekene Nzemeka (23) are being held for killing Maria Idegwu, a widow, and sawing off her head while their mother Rose Onwuyali is being held for allegedly instigating her children.

Her own offence stemmed from telling the children that their father had abandoned them and eloped with the widow.

So, last Saturday, the two boys stormed the widow’s residence at night. Their father who was said to be with Maria at the time, fled as soon as he saw them approaching the house, leaving his lover to her fate.

Chuks after much prompting from the mother narrated his own side of the story to Saturday Vanguard saying: “Yes, I killed her. My father abandoned us, his children, and went to live with the widow. He left us to suffer leaving my mother to cater for us alone. See my younger one (pointing to Ekene) he could not continue with his education  because there was no money. I wanted to go to the University to read Computer Science and my father is not there for us. I saw a bleak future.

“That day when I got to her (widow’s) compound she was in the toilet  so I waited for her to finish before I killed her”.

But Ekene said he was being made to suffer for his brother’s sin because, according to him, “I did not participate in the murder. I was at my cousin’s house which is a stone throw from our house, watching television, when I heard a loud noise in our compound. I came out and saw  our community boys dragging out my brother, Chuks; shouting that Chuks has committed murder. I was equally taken along”.

Their mother, Rose, denied ever asking them to go and kill the widow. Begging for forgiveness, she said;  “na devil work. I have been managing alone since my husband abandoned us over eight months ago to be living with the widow. I beg make una have mercy on us”.

State police spokesman, Charles Muka  said “there is enough circumstantial evidence against the accused persons and they are going to be charged to court as soon as we conclude our investigations.

Member representing Aniocha South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs. Onyemaechi  Mrakpor  said “it is a horrible and barbaric act. What kind of anger would push you to go and take life?

They are many ways of  handling issues. They went to the extreme. If your father is going out with a lover, I am not condoning excesses, but I think the extent you can go is to go and warn such lover, telling her to leave your father alone.”