The Edo State Police Command has revealed the circumstances surrounding the murder of a 70-year-old man, Arthur Judah Angel, by his 17-year-old son, Arthur Angel Jr.
The incident occurred due to a dispute over money anticipated from Amnesty International.
The spokesperson for the State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, briefed newsmen in Benin City about the case.
According to Nwabuzor, the suspect had repeatedly threatened to kill his father, believing that the latter was expecting funds from Amnesty International.
The situation culminated in the son using a sledgehammer to murder his father and then burying him in a shallow grave behind their house.
Nwabuzor recounted, “On the 15th of July, 2024, at about 09.00 hours, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugboha division in Edo State received a complaint that one Arthur Angel Jr. (17 years) brought a complaint of a shallow grave discovery at the backyard of the compound where he lived with the deceased. Immediately, the DPO mobilized his men and they moved out to the scene. On getting there, they saw a shallow grave and decided to exhume the body. When the body was exhumed, they discovered that it was the lifeless body of Arthur Angel, 70, and at a close look, they saw a sharp injury on the back of the deceased head, and the body was taken to Uromi Hospital mortuary.”
The preliminary investigation pointed to Arthur Angel Jr. as the perpetrator, driven by the belief that his father had already received the anticipated money.
Nwabuzor added, “The DPO said that preliminary investigation revealed that Arthur Angel Jr. had severally threatened to kill his father on the ground that his father was expecting some money from Amnesty International. The suspect had a feeling that the money had been paid to the deceased and decided to use the sledge-hammer to hit him behind the head while he was asleep.”
Arthur Angel Jr. has been transferred from Ugboha to the homicide section of the Edo State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
The incident took place in Ugboha community, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The deceased, Arthur Judah Angel, was known for his advocacy against the death penalty and his work with Life Wire International Foundation. He had traveled to over 15 countries to campaign against the death penalty through his art exhibitions and drawings.
