Okpunoeze, Uraugu-Nnewi, community in Anambra state was on Wednesday thrown into mourning as a 70 years old woman, Benedeth Ikegwuonu, was butchered to death by his 40-year-old son, Chinedu Ikegwuonu.

The deceased, it was learnt, returned from the market to prepare okra soup and was grinding ogbono when her son came from behind and slit her throat.

According to sources, the suspect allegedly took to his heels after committing the act living his mother in the pool of her own blood as well as his wife, an indigene of Ngwa, Abia State, and his son behind.

The deceased who is blessed with four boys and three girls, one of who died in a fatal accident is said to have had issues with the suspect over a piece of land belonging to his younger brother.

A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the suspect returned to Nnewi following his business collapse in Aba, Abia State.

He pointed out that the deceased did her best to improve the living condition of the suspect to the extent of giving him money to raise the foundation of his building from the money she got after the burial of her husband.

He said: “This was occasioned by the fact that Chinedu was unable to do anything about the foundation of his building after one and half years, coupled with the fact that the second daughter was taking a very good care of her mother before her untimely death from a fatal accident.

“The woman even went to the extent of taking money from her late daughter's bank account for the suspect to complete his building after which he then turned around to take over a portion of land that belongs to his younger brother.

“In his effort to mount pressure on his dead mother, he abandoned the Anglican Communion and started attending a white garment church.”

Chinedu’s wife and son, News Express gathered, have been arrested by men and officers of Nnewi Central Police Station with the hope that the suspect would come for his family.

A statement made available to journalists by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, said that one Onyedika Ikegwuonu had reported at the Central Police Station Nnewi about 2:40pm, that his elder brother Chiedu Ikegwuonu, had deliberately attacked their mother.

He was said to have given the deceased severe machete cuts on her neck and throat before fleeing the scene with the matchet.

The statement reads in part: “Police detectives attached to Central Police Station Nnewi led by the DPO visited the scene of crime and rushed the victim to Akwudo hospital where she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.”

The PPRO said the corpse has been deposited at Akwugo morgue for autopsy while efforts are in top gear to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Update news