From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A 65 year old retired nurse, Mrs Esther Amali and her 20 year old housemaid, Miss Mercy Mwuese, have been murdered in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
Our correspondent gathered that the duo were murdered at about 4:30pm in her residence situated behind Deeper Life Church, Federal Low Cost estate, along Makurdi – Naka road last Sunday, January 14, 2024.
According to the source who pleaded not to be named, they were killed by one Jimilu Jibril Ibrahim Alias Eko, their neighbour who is also identified to be a member of the red Axe confraternity.
The source said trouble started when the deceased housemaid (Mercy) was allegedly impregnated by a member a rival cultist (The Black) whom “Eko” always accused of killing one of his members and who also visits Mercy.
It was said that after Eko severally abused and threatened Mercy, she could no longer bear it and insulted the suspect who reported the matter to her madam, Mrs Amali.
It was also said that Mrs Amali immediately waded in and settled the matter and thought it is over until she saw him that Sunday before he killed them.
It was gathered that Mrs. Amali who retired recently from the Federal Medical Center, (FMC), Makurdi, as Chief Nurse, was heard calling out loudly the name of her housemaid and that of her killer as “neighbour Ibrahim.”
According to the source, the attacker after killing the nurse and her maid, (Mercy) left the five months old Mercy’s baby unhurt.
Sources from the neighbourhood told newsmen that the suspected murderer entered the compound at about 4:20pm on Sunday, and first attacked the housemaid who was alone at home doing her domestic chores.
They said that the deceased housemaid had misunderstanding with Ibrahim because of his friend whom she (Mercy) accused as being responsible for her pregnancy and now the father of her baby.
But that Ibrahim had consistently warned late Mercy to stop accusing his friend of being the father of her baby or otherwise, she would faced the consequences.
“On that fateful Sunday, Mama nurse left the house at about 2pm to where she usually attend a local bam meeting every Sunday. She finished from the bam at about 4:30pm only to return home and stormed into a situation where her housemate is struggling with killer whom she called his name “Ibrahim” .
“Mama started begging and calling the name of Ibrahim to stop what he is doing, and assured that henceforth, her housemaid would never accused his friend of being the father of her baby again.
“But Ibrahim did not listened to mama’s plea as he went on to stab Mercy (housemaid) to death then faced mama and also stabbed her multiple times.
“Ibrahim thought that mama had died and then jumped through the fence. It was while he left that mama struggled to come out and opened her gate before we her neighbours could go inside the compound and see how mama could be rescued.
“We immediately arranged for vehicle that conveyed mama and her housemaid to the hospital. While we were on our way to the hospital, Mama was narrating how the incidence happened to us. Immediately we got to the hospital, she gave up the ghost.
By Monday morning, January 15, 2024, the suspect who lives with his parents a few blocks away from the residence of the victims had disappeared while the family residence was also deserted.
The source said “Our happiness now is that, she had identified who killed her and the housemaid. We, neighbours, have also identified Ibrahim and his family in our neighborhood. But before the day could break this morning, the family of Ibrahim had relocated to unknown destination.
“We are going to meet this evening as neighbours to decide on what to do to the family house of Ibrahim, either to sell the apartment and use the proceeds to conduct the burial or pull down the building. We have reported the matter to police “D” division Makurdi.
“The remains of the housemaid and her aunt have been deposited at the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, while another neighbour had taken custody of the baby that was left behind.
“Mama Nurse was a kind hearted woman who loved peace and embraced everyone that comes her way. This incidence must not be swept under the carpet,” the source said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene, in a message said “I will get back to you on this.”