Retired Justice Brutally Murdered in Asaba Home
The Nigerian Police Force Delta State Command has confirmed the tragic murder of retired judge Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, whose body was discovered in her Asaba residence under violent circumstances. The incident has sent shockwaves through the state capital, raising serious security concerns.
Justice Okogwu, an Asaba-born former judicial officer, was found dead late Sunday night at her home located behind The Pointer Newspapers in Asaba. The retired judge's hands and legs were bound, and her house showed signs of being thoroughly ransacked, indicating a violent attack that appeared both targeted and carefully planned.
Mysterious Disappearance of Security Guard
A crucial development in the ongoing investigation is the unexplained disappearance of the night security guard assigned to protect the judge's residence. The guard reportedly vanished shortly after the incident, fueling suspicions of possible internal involvement in the crime.
The victim's brother, Ogbueshi Godfrey Okogwu, expressed the family's shock and confusion. "My eldest sister was murdered in her house on Sunday night. We only received the news on Monday morning, so we presume the incident happened during the night," he stated.
He highlighted the security lapse as particularly alarming. "A major red flag is the disappearance of the night security guard. The morning guard claimed he met the gate wide open when he arrived. He said he simply sat there. Sat there doing what? I do not understand this situation at all."
Police Investigation and Family Cooperation
The family has fully cooperated with authorities, providing the Police with complete details about the private security company responsible for deploying the guards. Police have detained the morning guard and summoned the owner of the security outfit to report to the station, though it remains unclear whether the proprietor has complied with this directive.
Confirming the developments, Police Public Relations Officer Bright Edafe disclosed that "Some of the security are in police custody while one of them is at large."
The grieving brother emphasized that "Only God knows what truly happened. We will not know anything concrete until the Police complete their investigations," reflecting the family's anguish and desire for justice.
Related Security Incident in Ondo State
In a separate security development, operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested two individuals suspected of stabbing a police officer to death in Akure, the state capital. The suspects, identified as Shina Jacob (25) and Felix Olalekan (32), allegedly attacked the police inspector during an altercation at Oke-Arata within the Arakale axis.
This tragic killing follows closely after another incident where a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was stabbed to death by a mentally unstable man in Oba-Ile area of Akure.
According to Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade, the officer was rushed to the hospital after being stabbed but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The Commissioner of Police has deployed additional operatives to the area, resulting in the arrest of the two suspects connected to the incident.
These consecutive violent incidents highlight growing security challenges in both Delta and Ondo states, raising urgent questions about public safety and law enforcement effectiveness in the region.
