…Fleeing landlord arrested 18 months after inflicting machete cuts on couple
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
May 15, 2022, would remain memorable in the lives of Mr. Stanley Nwagadi and his wife, Mrs. Comfort Nwagadi, as the day the couple escaped death by divine providence.
That day, their landlord, who was simply identified as Alabo, from Ogbakiri community, in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, allegedly attempted to snuff life out of the couple, particularly Comfort, for rejecting his love advances.
The incident occurred at No. 14, Ekwulobia Street, Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt, in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, around 8pm.
Daily Sun gathered that the couple’s problem preceded the marriage. It started shortly after the woman entered the compound as a spinster.
According to Stanley, he learnt from his wife that the landlord started approaching her for a relationship. But Comfort said she turned down the landlord’s overtures.
It was further gathered that, after the lady got married, the landlord, who was married, with three children, did not hide his ill feelings and plotted to unleash terror on the couple, who were from Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of the state.
It was learnt that, on the day of the incident, unknown to the couple, the landlord had armed himself with a machete and laid ambush for them in a dark passage, waiting for their arrival from an outing that night.
Stanley said: “I met her there (the compound). That was why I asked her if she had any affair with the landlord before. But she said no. I then asked her what was bringing up the problem between her and the man.
“According to my wife, when the man (landlord) kept pestering her for a relationship, she said she wondered if he was normal, a family man with three children.
“When my wife told me about him (landlord), I told her that since this problem was coming, we should look for a way to overcome the problem by packing out of the compound.
“In fact, we were thinking about how to leave the house before the incident.
“On that fateful day, May 15, 2022, the landlord threw my wife’s skirt away. When she asked him why he did that, he attacked her with a machete.
“When I heard her shout of pain for me to come to her rescue, he also attacked me with the cutlass. I didn’t expect him to act like that. In fact, I didn’t expect that at all.
“As it is now, I can’t make use of my hands now. My wife cannot make use of her two fingers anymore. He used the machete to cut the fingers. The fingers were cut off; they were later sewn back, but they are not functioning anymore.”
Stanley said, since the incident, life has been miserable because he and his wife were incapacitated.
“For now, life has been tough. I can’t do the job I normally do. I am a spray-painter and sandblaster by profession. I cannot make use of the hand again. I find it difficult.
“By the grace of God, sometimes, I get jobs. But what I do is I give out the job and collect a percentage. That is how I have been surviving with my wife. That is just by the grace of God.”
Meanwhile, after the attack that night, it was gathered that the suspect fled the compound with his wife and children.
Stanley continued: “In fact, that night the incident happened, the man fled home with his family members – his wife and three children.
But, on Sunday morning, November 12, 2023, Alabo sneaked in. He was arrested by the Azikiwe Police Division, Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt, following an intelligence report.
Stanley, who was happy at the arrest of the fleeing landlord, has demanded justice for himself and his wife: “We want justice to prevail because this is attempted murder case. So, we want justice to take its place in this case.
“In fact, at the Iloabuchi Police Station, he was even saying things I never expected him to say, by threatening me. He said that, if he eventually comes back, he will deal with me.”
It was learnt that, before the incident, the woman had a thriving restaurant. But after the attack, she could not manage it because of her incapacitation.
Comfort said: “The landlord attacked and inflicted several machete cuts on my head, hand and fingers because I refused to agree to his request for friendship. That was why he macheted me.
“On that fateful day, I went out with my Oga (husband). We came back at about 8pm. We didn’t know that he was hiding by the passage, holding a matchete.
“As I entered, he started attacking me with the machete on my head. I screamed and as I tried to put my hand on my head, he cut my hand and fingers.
“As my husband heard my cry, he rushed back to rescue me. But the landlord also attacked him and inflicted some cuts on his hand and fingers. Since that incident, we cannot make use of our hands and fingers well again.
“Now he has been arrested, I want the case to be charged to court. I want justice.
“When the incident occurred, we were in hospital for two weeks and three days.”
The family, however, has decided to leave the apartment with the arrest of the landlord.
Daily Sun gathered that the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) on Monday, November 13.
Note, please!
The attached pictures of the couple were taken when the incident occurred.
The last picture is the compound where the incident occurred.