Tragedy struck in Idekan Farm Settlement, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as Matthew James brutally murdered his 55-year-old wife, Etim Mary, over alleged infidelity.
The gruesome incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, leaving residents in shock.
According to community and police sources, James, now in police custody, suspected his wife of having an extramarital affair with another man in the community. An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, revealed that James claimed he and his late wife had a “blood covenant” not to betray each other.
The eyewitness narrated, “They had a blood covenant that they would not leave each other. He suspected the wife was having an extramarital affair.
The woman had been married before she met James. She had grown-up children before James married her. He just returned one morning with a machete and hacked the woman to death. He didn’t run away after committing the crime. He just stood beside her.”
Omolola Odutola, the state police command spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that the wife was pronounced dead at the hospital due to deep cuts on her forehead, shoulders, and other parts of her body. The husband was found with the blood-soaked machete believed to be the murder weapon.
Odutola said, “She was found lying in the pool of her blood just in front of the house around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. The body was taken to a general hospital in Ijebu-Igbo, where she was certified dead by a doctor on duty. Her corpse has been deposited at the Alayangbe Private Mortuary in Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, for autopsy.
The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta after the preliminary investigation is concluded.”
This incident bears a striking resemblance to a similar case in Ekiti last April, where Dare Onipede allegedly killed his wife, Arinola, during a dispute over accusations of her having an extramarital affair.
