Tony Osauzo, Benin
A 30-year-old tenant, Chinonso Okereke, has been reportedly stabbed to death over the use of bathroom by his caretaker, who is also a co-tenant of the deceased identified as Osaze Nosakhare, in Benin-City.
The killer caretaker is said have fled into hiding just as other tenants of the building, situated at No. 19, Ekiosa Street, 2nd East Circular have deserted the house, following reprisal mob attack.
Narrating how the incident happened, wife of the victim, Martha Okereke, 27, said the caretaker has been threatening to deal with her late husband.
She said trouble started because she wanted to take her bath at the general bathroom but the caretaker refused and told her to use the broken bathroom.
“I returned from the market and wanted to take my bath at our general bathroom but our caretaker said I should not use it. The bathroom we used to use is bad.
“He said myself and my husband will not use the bathroom again. My husband came back and saw that I have not taken my bath.
“My husband went to ask the caretaker but the caretaker started shouting that he has been warning my husband and he will deal with him.
“As he was shouting, he used mortar to hit my husband on the head. He brought out a knife and my husband ran away. He pursued my husband to our room and stabbed him on the chest.
“The caretaker ran away and we have not seen him. I want government to look for him and make him face the law. My husband did not do anything”, the bereaved woman said.
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A sister to the deceased, Mrs. Hannah Emenike, told journalists that she was cooking when her brother’s wife cried to her that the caretaker has killed her brother.
According to Emenike, “I went out and saw my brother on the ground. I thought he was not dead so we used wheelbarrow to take him to the hospital.
“He was confirmed dead at the hospital. He was stabbed in the chest, shoulder and head”, she said.
The action of the caretaker forced angry relatives and youths in the area to attempt to set the building ablaze but the timely arrival of police saved the situation. The building was, however, badly damaged.
Confirming the incident, spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said two suspects had been arrested.