Man murders wife for delivering triplets

Man murders wife for delivering triplets

LUKKEY ABAWURU

Lagos-based businessman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, 32, yesterday allegedly battered his wife, Ijeoma, to death for noise nuisance of their newly delivered set of triplets.

Shortly after the alleged homicide, police mounted a manhunt for the suspect, while the new babies were taken to Heritage Homes Orphanage, Maryland, Lagos.

Daily Champion learnt that Mr. Eze staggered into their one-room apartment in Anthony Village, and began to batter his wife and his mother-in-law for undisclosed reasons.

It was further alleged that the suspect was acting under the influence of alcohol when he battered the duo.

A witness, who does not want his name in print, said that the suspect who has been unhappy since his wife gave birth to the triplets, returned home and was provoked by the cries of the new-born babies which he described as "noise targeted to disrupt my peace of mind." Instantly he scolded his wife and engaged her in fisticuffs.

According to the witness, Eze had in the previous days since after the birth of the children resorted to keeping late nights and patronizing beer parlours around his environs.

The witness said: "He came home drunk and confronted his wife and her mother on why the ‘noise’ in the house and his wife Ijeoma challenged him for abandoning her and the children; then the beating started."

One source noted that Ijeoma was rushed to a nearby clinic but she died later in hospital.

However, the source stated that following the death, the family reported the matter to the police.

But Ikechukwu’s brother, Okechukwu, narrated his own version of the tragedy to Channels Television.

"He (Ikechukwu) was drunk when he came back home. He increased the volume of his radio set so the wife was complaining about the noise level for the sake of the little children, but the man started saying after all it is his own property. The man hit the radio on the floor.

"He was about to carry the television set, when she held the husband who started punching her."

A police source at the Anthony Village police station said the brother of the deceased reported the matter to the police.

According to him, the husband fled when he heard the news of his wife’s death.

Last night spokesman of the State Police Command, Olubode Ojajunni, said the triplets had been taken to the motherless babies’ home in Maryland area of Lagos.

Ojajunni, a superintendent of police (SP) said the police had begun a manhunt for the suspect.

Said he: "We just got a report that there was a quarrel between a husband and wife who had just given birth to triplets and after the quarrel there was a physical assault on both sides and eventually, the woman was taken to the hospital. And now, the report we’ve just received is that the woman has died."

Ijeoma’s corpse has been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary, Ikeja, for autopsy.