By Ade Oyeyemi
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a young man identified as Seth for allegedly killing his father with a machete in the Pipeline area of Rumukwurushi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The command also said it had commenced an investigation to determine what led to the alleged killing and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It was gathered that the suspect, said to be in his 20s, allegedly attacked his father at their residence following what neighbours described as recurring disagreements between the deceased and his son.
A neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the deceased had reportedly confronted Seth several times over his alleged consumption of a hard liquor known as Ice.
The source said the suspect’s mother, a teacher, was away at work when the incident allegedly occurred.
According to the neighbour, the woman returned home to find the house in disarray and initially thought her husband was asleep after seeing him lying down.
The source said the woman became suspicious because of the condition of the house and called for assistance. She was reportedly informed that her husband was dead.
The neighbour added that Seth subsequently locked himself inside the room where his father was found, prompting the woman to raise the alarm. Vigilantes and police officers later arrived at the scene and forced the door open.
The source said the suspect was allegedly found with bloodstains on his hands and subsequently admitted to killing his father.
The deceased was said to have sustained several injuries during the alleged attack, including wounds around his neck.
However, the neighbour said the exact reason for the attack remained unclear, noting that the incident might have followed a disagreement between the suspect and his father.
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media showed the deceased’s wife recounting the incident to officials believed to be members of a local vigilante group.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Blessing Agabe, said the suspect had been arrested and that investigation was ongoing.
Agabe said, “Yes, I can confirm. The suspect in question has been arrested, while investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
