An Anglican priest was brutally murdered by his son in the rural community of Okpare, Olomu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, early Wednesday morning.
According to The PUNCH, the cleric, affiliated with St. John’s Anglican Church, Okpare-Olomu, was killed while he slept by his 28-year-old son, Ufuoma Umurie, around 2 am.
The priest’s wife narrowly escaped a similar fate, as Ufuoma reportedly chased her while she tried to save her husband’s life. Fortunately, she escaped uninjured.
Ufuoma, who is now in police custody, used a cutlass to attack his father, striking his skull and other body parts before neighbours and church members intervened and gained access to the home.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but multiple community sources claim that Ufuoma is mentally unstable and this was his second attack on his father.
The first time, Ufuoma assaulted his father, and the local vigilante apprehended him, but the priest pleaded for his son not to be taken to the police.
During the commotion, neighbours managed to overpower Ufuoma, who was then handed over to the Otu-Jeremi Divisional Police.
One community member stated, “This is the second time Ufuoma is attacking his father. The other time, he beat him, and the Okpare-Olomu vigilante held him. But the father pleaded that he should not be taken to the police station. We heard that he is not mentally stable.”
Umurie was nearing retirement and had been brought closer to home in anticipation of it before this tragic event occurred.
Confirming the incident, Spokesperson for the State Police Command SP Bright Edafe, said, “The suspect is already in police custody and he would be prosecuted for the crime.”
