Pandemonium erupted in the agrarian community of Okpare in Olomu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday morning following the gruesome murder of an Anglican priest by his son.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the priest, identified as Rev. Isaac Umurie, one of the reverends attached to St. John’s Anglican Church, Okpare-Olomu, was allegedly hacked to death in his sleep in the early hours of the day by his 28-year-old son, Ufuoma Umurie.
It was learnt that the gory incident occurred around 2 a.m., with the mother narrowly escaping being butchered alongside.
The suspect allegedly chased his mother while she was attempting to save the life of her husband, but narrowly escaped unhurt, sources said.
Ufuoma, who is presently in the police net, was said to have used a cutlass to hack his father’s skull and other parts of his body while asleep before neighbours and church members could gain access to the apartment.
Although what led to the incident was still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, multiple sources in the community alleged that Ufuoma was mentally unstable and that it was the second time that the suspect would be attacking the deceased father.
It was however gathered that in the ensuing melee, the suspect was overpowered, apprehended and handed over to the police at the Otu-Jeremi Divisional Headquarters for prosecution.
Commenting, one of the sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “This is the second time Ufuoma is attacking his father. The other time, he beat him up, and the Okpare-Olomu vigilantes held him. But the father pleaded that he should not be taken to the police station. We heard that he is not mentally stable.
“In today’s incident, he hacked the father with a cutlass, burst his skull, and mutilated other parts of his body. The priest has a few years to retire. He was brought closer home because of his retirement before this unfortunate incident”.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident.
Edafe also confirmed that “the suspect is already in police custody and he will be prosecuted for the crime.”
