Octogenarian killed in Edo over land tussle

PERSONS suspected to be hoodlums have beheaded the assistant head of Arougba village, 85-year- old Goodluck Uwumahongie over alleged land tussle.

   They were‎ said to have shot their victim before they chopped off his head.

    The deceased was said to be alone at his in-law’s residence at Irhirhi village when the attackers struck.

   He was said ‎to have fled to Irhirhi after a crisis relating to land dispute broke out at Aruogba where many houses were burnt and three persons killed last year.

    Widow of the victim, Julie, 55, said she was informed at about 5.30p.m. that her husband had been killed and said she believed her husband was killed over tussle for the community land. 

“One Osamwonyi has earlier threatened to kill my husband before the crisis. After we ran away from the village during the crisis to seek refuge at my father’s village at Irhirhi, Osamwonyi saw him here and said he would still kill him.”

   “I was called that my husband was killed. He was killed because of land tussle. They have been fighting over the community land. He said my husband joined the other faction against them. People said he was shot before they cut off his head and took the head away. I hid my husband in my father’s house. Nobody was at home when it happened.”

 Edo State Police spokesman, Joseph Edogiawerie, confirmed the killing and said two suspects had been arrested.

   He said the police were on the trail of the killers and said the killers left with the victim’s head.