Attah Ede Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command on Tuesday, paraded four suspects arrested in connection with the assassination of a former President Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Margaret Igbetar rtd.
Late justice Igbetar was murdered in her residence located around Gboko Road Makurdi, on August 2023.
Parading the suspects before newsmen at the command’s headquarter in Makurdi, State Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, disclosed that the suspects have since confessed to the crime.
CP Onyeka maintained that one Aondohemba Joseph, a nephew to the deceased was earlier arrested and had Joseph had alleged that Justice Igbetar was holding his father’s property which should have been transferred to him.
He had said the Igbetar refused to relinquish it to him.
“You will recall that on 24th August 2023, a case of Culpable Homicide involving the late Justice Margaret Mary Igbetar (rtd) was reported and I had promised to ensure that Justice is served. One Aondohemba Joseph, a nephew of the deceased was arrested immediately.
“A more detailed and advanced investigation started when the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and handed over to the Operation Zenda investigative team to continue.
“The suspect who eventually confessed to having planned and recruited other people to help him in killing his Aunty (Justice Igbetar) led a team of detectives to Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area (LGA), where the following suspects were arrested: Igbazenda Gbidye, 63yrs old and Dzungwenen Ukor, 40yrs old.
“These suspects admitted that Aondohemba Joseph had reported to them that his father died and left so much property in the hands of his aunty (the deceased) and she has refused to hand the said property over to him. They agreed to join him in eliminating her so that he could have access to his property.
“One Akuhwa Barnabas, 32yrs old, a driver to the deceased who was also arrested, corroborated their statements by admitting that he was the one who allowed the gang access to the house and manned the gate for them until they finished the assassination process”, the State Commissioner of Police stated.
Commending the people of the state, Onyeka said, “Let me use this opportunity to commend the good people of Benue state for their patience and cooperation.
“The command will continue to do its best to rid the state of crime” he pledged.
