A man was beheaded and seven houses were set ablaze in the Ogute-Oke community of Estako East Local Government Area in Edo State following a violent altercation at a burial party. The incident occurred shortly after the community had observed its Olimi festival and a funeral for a prominent local chief.
How the Violence Started
According to an anonymous source cited by The Punch, the trouble began when a man attacked another with a cutlass after the victim danced with a girl he had brought to the event. The suspect struck the victim on the neck, causing fatal injuries. The victim was rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead.
Reprisal Attacks
In retaliation, relatives of the deceased stormed the suspected killer's community and set seven houses on fire. Many residents fled to avoid being lynched or arrested by the police.
Edo State Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Godwin Eshieshie, who hails from the community, confirmed the events. He stated: 'A guy was engaging a girl when another guy came from behind and started dancing. They had issues, and one went to get a cutlass. He used the cutlass on another person not connected to the quarrel. They took the injured guy to the hospital, and he was confirmed dead.'
He added that community elders have intervened to calm the situation and that he plans to visit the community as soon as possible. The Edo State Police spokesperson did not respond to calls at the time of reporting.
Related Incident: Man Kills Girlfriend in Anambra
In a separate case, operatives of the Anambra State Police Command arrested 33-year-old Ifechukwu Okechukwu for allegedly killing his 23-year-old girlfriend and secretly burying her in Nkpor. Four other suspects were arrested in connection with other murders. The arrests followed trending videos and credible information from the public.
