Two widows demand justice over husband’s alleged killing in Edo
Two widows in Edo State are appealing to Governor Monday Okpebholo for justice following the alleged murder of their husbands in the Obagie N’ Evbousa community. Mrs. Joy Azuka, 28, and Mrs. Favour Azuka, 34, made their plea during a protest on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat.
The widows claim that their husbands, along with two others, were killed and buried alive on November 4, 2024. They are urging the governor to intervene and ensure that those responsible for the killings are prosecuted.
During the protest, the women, joined by family members, expressed their grief over the loss of their husbands, both of whom left behind two young sons, Godsent, 6, and Godspower, 7. Favour Azuka stated that their children have not attended school since the incident.
According to Favour, her husband, a bricklayer, was in Obagie to work with colleagues when armed men attacked them. “I received a phone call from a concerned citizen informing me that my husband and his colleagues were attacked, killed, and buried alive. This occurred just as he was preparing to bury his father-in-law,” she said. With the assistance of a police officer, they later went to the attack site to attempt to make arrests.
Favour accused thugs connected to a local figure, Uyi Igiebor, of being behind the killing. She reported that the police officer who accompanied them was injured in the attack but survived. Subsequent arrests were made, and one suspect allegedly confessed to the crime.
Joy Azuka claimed that some government officials are attempting to secure the release of the suspects connected to her husband’s death. She mentioned that Igiebor had offered her family 500,000 naira as compensation, but they rejected the offer. She noted that an arrest warrant for Igiebor had been issued by the Inspector-General of Police.
“One of the suspects who confessed to being involved in the crime is currently in custody of the Department of State Services. Our efforts to engage with the government for support have been unsuccessful,” Joy added. She criticized the government’s response, stating that attempts to meet with Paul Akhere, Special Adviser on Security to the governor, had been unproductive.
In response, Akhere confirmed his awareness of the situation, stating that Uyi Igiebor had been arrested and that the incident stemmed from a leadership dispute over the youth chairmanship in the community. He asserted that a compensation agreement of 2 million naira had been reached for the families and their children, with 800,000 naira paid so far.
Akhere indicated that Igiebor denied involvement in the killings but noted that another individual had recently made a confessional statement regarding the incident.
