In a heartbreaking and deeply unsettling incident, a 29-year-old man, Mathias Amunde Ugwe, has been arrested for the murder of his mother, Mrs. Justina Amunde, in the Ohong community of Obudu Local Government Area, Cross River State. This chilling case has left the community reeling as details of the crime continue to unfold.
A Grim Discovery.
The tragic events came to light on December 28, 2024, when the lifeless body of Mrs. Amunde was recovered from a well. The circumstances surrounding her death revealed a horrifying betrayal that stunned even the most seasoned investigators.
Reports indicate that a combined effort by local security operatives, including the Nigerian Police Force, the Special Adviser on Security to the Obudu Local Government Chairman, and community leaders, led to the arrest of the suspect, Mathias, and his alleged accomplice.
A Ritualistic Motive.
Elijah Ugani, a publisher who confirmed the arrest in a Facebook post on January 10, 2025, revealed disturbing details of the crime. According to an anonymous source, Mathias had allegedly conspired with a ritualist who instructed him to shave his mother’s hair for ritual purposes.
The ritualist, whose identity remains undisclosed, has also been apprehended, raising questions about the role of occult practices in this heinous act.
The Night of Horror.
The sequence of events that led to the murder is nothing short of chilling. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, Mrs. Amunde attended a vigil and returned home late. Unbeknownst to her, her son and his accomplice were hiding in the store, waiting to carry out their sinister plan.
According to a source, the house help discovered the men in the store when she went to fetch water late at night. Alarmed, she raised the alarm, drawing Mrs. Amunde to the scene. Tragically, Mathias then attacked his mother with a hammer, taking her life in the process.
After ensuring she was unresponsive, the duo carried her body and dumped it into a well. They then fled the scene with the house help, threatening her to remain silent.
A Brave Escape and Revelations.
The house help managed to escape to Utanga in Obanliku Local Government Area, where she recounted the ordeal to her parents on December 27, 2024. This brave disclosure prompted an investigation, leading to the recovery of Mrs. Amunde’s body the following day.
The Aftermath.
The community is grappling with the implications of this tragic event, questioning how a son could betray his mother in such a gruesome manner. Mathias, who reportedly suffers from a leg fracture due to a previous accident, is now in police custody alongside his accomplices.
The arrest marks the beginning of what promises to be a long and complex legal process. Meanwhile, the people of Ohong community are left mourning the loss of a woman whose life was cruelly cut short.
A Call for Justice.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need to address underlying issues such as poverty, lack of education, and the influence of harmful traditional practices that can lead to such devastating crimes.
The death of Mrs. Justina Amunde serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance within communities and the importance of fostering environments where everyone feels safe.
As investigations continue, the community and the nation at large await justice for the victim, hoping that this tragic story serves as a catalyst for change and an end to such senseless acts of violence.
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