Suspects in the death of Justice Margaret Igbetar, retired President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, allegedly admitted to killing her for stealing their family’s landed property.
On August 24, 2023, gunmen stormed the retired judge’s home on Wantor Kwange Street, adjacent the School of Medicine at Benue State University, Makurdi, and murdered her. Her decaying remains were recovered a few days later by her relatives.
The deceased’s nephew, Aondohemba Joseph, led a group to the retired judge’s residence where she was assassinated, according to the Commissioner of Police, Batholomew Onyeka, who paraded four of the alleged murders on Tuesday.
Other suspects arrested and paraded included the late judge’s driver, a security guard, and other relatives.
The CP said,
“The suspect (nephew) who eventually confessed to have planned and recruited other people to help him in killing his aunty led a team of detectives to Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area where the following suspects were arrested; Igbazenda Gbidye, 63, and Dzungwenen Ukor, 40.
“These suspects admitted that Aondohemba Joseph had reported to them that his father died and left so much property in the hands of his aunty (the deceased) and that she had refused to hand the said property over to him. They agreed to join him in eliminating her so that he could have access to his property.
“One Akuhwa Barnabas 32 yearrs old, a driver to the deceased who was also arrested, corroborated their statements by admitting that he was the one who allowed the gang access to the house and manned the gate for them until they finished the assassination process.”
The Police boss also disclosed that between July and the end of September 2023, the Command had arrested 85 suspects for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, culpable homicide, armed robbery, cultism, rape and unlawful possession of firearm.
He added, “Seven kidnapped victims have been rescued within the period under review while 12 locally made pistols, four AK47 Rifles, four single/double barrel guns, 160 Ammunition and four cartridges were recovered.