Neighbour hacks septuagenarian to death

A middle-aged man identified simply as Raphael, has hacked his neighbour and septuagenarian, Mr. Kayode Omotore, to death with machete due to recurrent squabbles over bonfire and smoke pollution in their environment.

The incident, which occurred at Ilutitun, an ancient town in Okitipupa local government council of Ondo State on Friday, is causing a lot of tension and spate of mourning in the area.

A source narrated how the deceased, Omotore, was severely matcheted to death by the assailant, while his wife, Johannah, who was also attacked by Raphael, was left with mutilated fingers, some of which were dismembered during the scuffle.

The Guardian gathered that the deceased and the alleged killer were embroiled in recurrent arguments over a steady bonfire near Omotore’s house by the attacker, for which the former complained that the smoke was causing them some inconveniences.

“The last fight between the two neighbours was prolonged, because there was nobody to settle the rift, except another neighbour who ran into them when Raphael was hitting the deceased and his wife with cutlass,” a source disclosed.

The source added: “The man (deceased) had warned the suspect not to be making bonfire beside his house, because anytime he set the fire up, the smoke always covered the compound of the deceased and the deceased didn’t like it and had complained severally about it.

“On Friday, the same issue came up again and before we know it, it had led to fight between them and Raphael matcheted the old man till he died and while the deceased’s wife, who was trying to prevent her husband from the attack had some of her fingers cut.”

However, another source disclosed that the suspect was mentally derailed and suffers psychotic problems, but that did not deter youths in the town who were irked by the incident from setting Raphael’s house ablaze.

State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, while confirming the incident, said the suspect had been arrested, pointing out that investigation had commenced, while the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary and the wife receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.