By Emma Egboigbe
UROMI- It was weeping and wailing when our Crime reporter recently visited the family house of one Okeleazegbele of Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State as family members were weeping over the killing of their mother, Mrs. Okeleazegbele and the safety and whereabouts of her son and his wife, Mr.& Mrs. Okeleazegbele Jude.
The killing of Mrs. Okeleazegbele and the sudden disappearance of Jude and his wife which has caused apprehension and pandemonium amongst family members and sympatisers was alleged to have been informed by the quest of a notorious and daredevil Black Axe Confraternity group to forcing Jude into joining the Confraternity.
The now on the run Esan born Jude according to multiple sources has escaped death by whiskers on several occasions and inflicted with various degree of injuries following his constant refusal to join the dreaded Confraternity.
It would be recall that similar development played out recently in Uzebu village in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State where a 28-year-old hairstylist, one Imafidon Noah, was hacked to death by members of the Black Axe Confraternity over the deceased’s resistance to join them.
Narrating their ordeal, a senior family member who managed to speak with our Correspondent while shedding tears intermittently, Pa. Egbon Friday, disclosed that the recent killing of Mrs. Okeleazegbele and attack on Jude and his wife took place on November 6, 2014, and lamented that the whereabouts and safety of their children (husband and wife) have continue to cause apprehension in the family.
The Octogenarian Egbon Friday informed further that on the 6th day of November, 2014, some armed wadded black axe members after demanding the whereabouts of Jude from his mother, shot her dead before intercepting Jude and his wife while the couple were heading back home following the killing of Jude’s parents.
“They cultists stated shooting sporadically into the air apparently to scare residents away from rescuing Jude and his wife”, he said.
He disclosed that one Sunday who was Jude’s co-worker in his former hotel work at Uromi attempted on several occasions to lure him (Jude) into joining Black Axe Confraternity, a situation Jude constantly rejected simply on the basis of his Christian faith, hence, Jude’s present ordeal.
“In one of the occasions, the black axe members attempted to kill Jude who they inflicted cutlass and knives injuries on before abandoning him in his pool of blood, believing to be dead.
“He (Jude) was later rush to the hospital by a good Samaritan who met him battling with death. He was later hospitalised for over one month.
“As I speak to you (our Crime Correspondent) we the family members have not set our eyes on our son Okeleazegbele Jude nor his wife since November 6, 2014 and we don’t even know if they are dead or alive”, he remarked.
He, however, appealed to authorities who may know the whereabouts of Jude and his wife to have compassion on them and ensure their safety, adding that the black axe cult members have vowed to eliminate him (Jude) wherever they set their eyes on him.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Edo State, DSP Abiodun osifo, who confirmed the incident said that the police have commenced preliminary investigation into the matter.
DSP Abiodun disclosed that no arrest has been in connection with the incident, just as he said that the whereabouts of Okeleazegbele Jude and his wife remain unknown to the command.
