Why We Killed Benue Retired Judge – Nephew

Suspected killers of the retired President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Makurdi, Benue State, Justice Margaret Igbetar, have confessed to having killed her for taking their family’s landed property.

Some gunmen had on August 24, 2023, invaded the retired judge’s residence located at Wantor Kwange Street, opposite School of Medicine, Benue State University, Makurdi and killed her. Her decomposed remains were discovered by her relatives a few days later.

Parading four of the suspected killers on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, Batholomew Onyeka, said that the deceased’s nephew identified as Aondohemba Joseph led a gang to the residence of the retired judge where she was killed.

Other suspects arrested and paraded were; the driver of the late judge, security man 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.