A 45-year-old man identified as Ali Edicha, was clubbed to death in Aloji, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, during an altercation over his wife’s right to bathe in a specific area of their shared compound.

Local sources reported that the incident occurred on Monday when the deceased intervened to reprimand a neighbor for allegedly harassing his wife whenever she attempted to use her preferred bathing spot.

During the heated argument that followed, the neighbour reportedly struck Edicha on the head with a large wooden club. Witnesses said Edicha slumped and immediately fell into a coma. He was rushed to a nearby clinic in the community, where he was later confirmed dead.

Reports from the community indicate that the deceased and his neighbour had been emmeshed in a hostile relationship for years due to irreconcilable differences.

Adegbe, a resident and family member, provided further details: “The two neighbours had been living in the same compound with no love lost between them for years. The assailant had persistently raised issues with the deceased’s wife taking her bath in a particular spot, showing no change in attitude despite several complaints.

“On Monday, the issue cropped up again. Edicha intervened upon hearing his wife and the neighbor quarreling as she headed to the spot. In the ensuing argument, the neighbour took a big stick and hit Edicha on the head. He slumped into a coma. We took him to the village clinic, but he didn’t make it.”

The matter has been reported to the local police post and is currently under investigation to uncover the full circumstances behind the attack.

The deceased, a popular cobbler in the community, has been buried according to Islamic rites.

Police source in the area confirmed the incident but refereed our reporter to the command headquarters.

Attempts to confirm the incident with the Kogi State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the police spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to messages or calls at the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust)