Tragedy struck in Edo State as Mrs. Nata Igbinovia, a mother of four, was brutally hacked to death while attempting to break up a fight involving a father and his son. The harrowing incident unfolded on the night of Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Okpagha-Ewuare, Eyaen quarters, situated on the outskirts of Benin City along the Auchi Road.
Confirming the incident, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, stated that the suspect, identified as Ayo Mr. Philip, has been apprehended.
“Yes, the Command is aware of it, investigation has begun, the suspect, Philip Ayo, has been arrested yesterday. Investigation into the murder case is still on,” he said.
According to the victim’s daughter, Patience, the tragic incident unfolded as her mother attempted to intervene in a dispute between her nephew and their neighbors, later identified as the suspects. Following a heated argument, the altercation escalated, leading the suspects to attack Mrs. Nata Igbinovia with both a knife and an axe, resulting in her untimely demise.
Patience recounted that during the confrontation, Mr. Philip brandished a knife with the intention of stabbing her cousin. However, Mrs. Igbinovia courageously intervened, sustaining injuries in the process. Subsequently, she collapsed, and in a further act of violence, the suspect’s son emerged from their residence wielding an axe, striking Mrs. Igbinovia on the back. Meanwhile, Mr. Philip, still armed with the knife, inflicted additional wounds on the victim, fatally stabbing her in the chest.
Tragically, the assailants fled the scene upon realizing the severity of Mrs. Igbinovia’s injuries, leaving her unconscious on the ground. Despite efforts by sympathizers to render assistance, the suspects managed to escape before any apprehension could be made.
A compassionate resident in the neighborhood, upon learning of the tragic incident, promptly provided a vehicle to transport the deceased to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Unfortunately, upon arrival, medical personnel confirmed Mrs. Nata Igbinovia’s untimely demise.
Operatives from the Eyaen police division swiftly responded to the scene of the crime and have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the brutal killing. Their efforts aim to unravel the events leading up to the tragic incident and bring those responsible to justice.
