A 25-year-old woman, Kehinde Onizeokaraga, has allegedly been killed by her husband, Sodiq Ibrahim, during an attempt to resolve their marital differences in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The incident has prompted the state Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, to order a thorough investigation and direct officers to ensure that the suspect is arrested and brought to justice.
Ibrahim, a meat seller, allegedly attacked Kehinde with a machete during a confrontation on Wednesday after the couple met as part of efforts to settle their troubled marriage.
The couple, who were originally from Kogi State, had reportedly been experiencing difficulties in their relationship before the incident.
A source familiar with the matter said the deceased had previously moved out of her husband’s home because of what were described as irreconcilable differences.
According to the source, Ibrahim had recently made efforts to resolve the disagreement, although Kehinde was reportedly uncomfortable with the move.
The situation allegedly took a violent turn when the couple met, with Ibrahim said to have repeatedly struck his wife with a machete, leaving her with injuries that proved fatal.
The suspect reportedly fled after the attack and was still at large as of Thursday, while Kehinde’s remains were deposited at a mortuary.
The deceased’s cousin, Yussuf Lawrence, said the family was devastated by the killing and appealed to the police to intensify efforts to locate the suspect.
Lawrence explained that Kehinde had been preparing to leave Ado Ekiti when she was invited to the home of a friend of her father, who was said to want to speak with her.
According to him, she went to the residence on Wednesday morning without knowing that her husband would also be there.
He said the meeting, which was intended to help settle the couple’s disagreement, eventually degenerated into the fatal confrontation.
Lawrence further alleged that some people had been arrested in connection with the incident, although Ibrahim himself had escaped.
He also claimed that the suspect left the scene with Kehinde’s mobile phone, which the family believes could contain information that may assist investigators in establishing what happened.
The family has called for Ibrahim’s arrest and prosecution, saying Kehinde did not deserve to lose her life in such circumstances.
“We want Sadiq (Ibrahim) to be found and arrested. We want justice for Kehinde. Her parents are in pain, and my family is in serious agony,” Lawrence said.
Confirming the incident, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said Commissioner Falade had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case.
Abutu said the investigation was aimed at establishing the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, identifying and apprehending the alleged perpetrator, and ensuring that justice was served.
The police have therefore begun efforts to track down Ibrahim, while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the fatal marital dispute.
The incident has again raised concerns about the dangers of unresolved domestic conflicts and the need for early intervention when marital disagreements escalate into potentially violent confrontations.
