Tension has gripped Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, after a 25-year-old woman, Kehinde Onizeokaraga, was allegedly hacked to death by her husband during a domestic dispute.
The suspect, Ibrahim Sodiq, popularly known as Alfa Eleran, is a meat seller. He reportedly attacked Kehinde with a machete during an argument over unresolved marital issues.
The incident occurred at the residence of Lamidi Salawu, a friend of Kehinde’s father, where the couple had reportedly gone for mediation.
According to family sources, what started as an attempt to settle the dispute later turned violent, with Sodiq allegedly attacking his wife repeatedly with the machete.
Kehinde sustained severe injuries and reportedly died from the attack. Sodiq was said to have fled the scene and remained at large as of the time of filing this report.
The victim’s cousin, Lawrence Yusuf, alleged that Kehinde had been planning to leave the marriage after becoming suspicious that some of her clothes and underwear were disappearing from their home.
Yusuf said Kehinde had planned to travel to her sister’s residence in Idoani, Ondo State, on Thursday, September 10, but reportedly told her husband she was travelling for work.
He alleged that Kehinde was later invited to Salawu’s residence by his wife, who told her that Salawu wanted to see her.
According to him, Kehinde went there on Wednesday morning without knowing that her husband would also be present.
Yusuf further alleged that some people who were present during the mediation, including Salawu, his wife and the man who stood as Sodiq’s father during the couple’s wedding, were taken into police custody.
He also claimed that Sodiq fled with Kehinde’s mobile phone, which the family believes may contain information relevant to the investigation.
“We want Sodiq to be found and arrested. We want justice for Kehinde. Her parents are in pain and my family is in serious agony. She didn’t deserve this,” Yusuf said.
The Ekiti State Police Command had not officially confirmed the incident as of the time of filing this report.
