DELTA, Nigeria — A family dispute over a bride price of N250,000 in Akwukwu-Igbo, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, escalated into a brutal assault allegedly committed by a police constable and vigilantes, all family members of the victim.
The victim, Uchenna Nmakwe, was reportedly attacked at a family meeting by his cousins Anthony, Ezindu, and Chinedu Nmakwe, who are accused of using a cutlass, a hammer, and a pump-action gun in the assault.
The assailants then allegedly absconded with the bride price, which was brought by their in-law.
“Our in-law said they didn’t want a ceremony for the marriage, which was held on May 7, 2023. The N250,000 they brought was paid into our elder brother’s account, so we couldn’t share it that day,” Uchenna explained.
The assault occurred around 6 p.m. in their grandfather’s house. According to Uchenna, “They mercilessly assaulted me. They used the hammer to hit my father’s mouth.”
The accused individuals hold positions of authority in the local community. Anthony is the vigilante chairman of Akwukwu-Igbo; Chinedu is a constabulary with the police, and Ezindu serves as a vigilante in the community.
Their positions have raised serious concerns about the abuse of power, as Uchenna alleges that the police have refused to arrest them.
Human rights activist, Mr. Victor Ojei, petitioned the state Commissioner of Police over the incident on Friday, May 12, 2023, accusing the suspects of attempted murder and abuse of office.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Ojei said, referring to a previous incident in which Anthony allegedly bit Uchenna during a dispute over a marriage in the family.
In a phone interview, Anthony claimed the injuries inflicted on Uchenna resulted from a fight over the “N250,000 marriage fee”.
He justified the use of a bamboo stick, alleging that Uchenna insulted his elder brother during the meeting.
The state police spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident but revealed that the suspects have yet to be arrested.
“The Area Command, Asaba, arrested his brothers and could not keep them, so they were released. But the case has been transferred to the headquarters,” Edafe said.
As the case unfolds, the community of Akwukwu-Igbo watches with bated breath, anxiously awaiting justice in a case that has shed light on the underlying tensions and potential abuses of power in their midst.
