EDO, Nigeria – Two widows in Edo State have appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene in the investigation of the alleged killing of their husband, Sunday Azuka, and two other men in Obagie N’Evbousa community, Oredo Local Government Area.
The women, Favour Azuka, 34, and Joy Azuka, 28, made the appeal during a protest at the Edo State Council Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Friday, alleging that the victims were attacked and buried alive on 4 November 2024.
Favour told journalists that her husband and his colleagues were working as bricklayers in the community when the alleged attack occurred. “I received a phone call on that day from a concerned citizen that my husband and his colleagues were attacked by armed men, killed and buried alive,” she said.
She accused suspected thugs loyal to a man identified as Uyi Igiebor of carrying out the attack. She also alleged that a police officer who accompanied the family to the scene was shot and seriously injured. The widow said arrests were subsequently made and alleged that one of the suspects confessed to participating in the killings. They further claimed that the suspect was in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Joy alleged that some government officials were attempting to secure the suspect’s release. She said the family had rejected an offer of ₦500,000 as compensation and support for their two sons, Godsent, six, and Godspower, seven. She also claimed that the Inspector-General of Police, through the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City, had issued an arrest warrant for Igiebor.
The widows said their children, who were in kindergarten 3 before the incident, had stopped attending school following their father’s death.
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