BENIN CITY – The family of Izibiri is currently engrossed in seriously crisis following the death of their patriarch, Pa Godwin Izibiri and gruesome murder of a middle aged man in Benin City.
According to several reports, trouble started for the family in February 2013 when Pa Godwin Izibiri died intestate leaving behind two wives and 13 children.
The reports said after the funeral rites in May same year, a family reunion was held according to the Benin tradition and culture of inheritance, to institute the heir apparent to enable him step into his father’s shoes.
“To the amazement of every member of the family, the second wife Mrs. Patience Izibili who had all four female children insisted that the property must be distributed among her female children, simply because she is the first wife”, the source said.
The source who preferred to be anonymous said “the first wife who is very bittet, wanted a part of the inheritance for herself and her children. She began to threaten her co-wife and mother of the heir apparent, Mr. Bright Izibiri. She threatened that if the property is distributed otherwise, that is according to tradition and excluding her daughters, she would eliminate the children of her co-wife one after the other”
Speaking to newsmen, Mrs. Edith Izibili, one of the widows of Pa Izibili, said the, unfolding events since the death of their husband has been very frightening.
According to her: “I lost my husband in February 2013. One year later in 2014, I also lost my beloved daughter under mysterious circumstances; and two years after the death of my husband, my co-wife is still threatening to kill me and my children. I am afraid for my life and the lives of my children”, Mrs. Edith Izibili said.
“My only son has been arrested, detained and prosecuted for an alleged murder he knew nothing about. Even as we speak, I do not even the where my son is. Every day, strange faces parade around our house, threatening to eliminate every members of my family.
“Last year, on April 25, 2015, a customer came to barb his at Bright’s barbing salon. Having cut his hair; came out of the shop, he was shot twice in front of my son’s shop. I need help to stay alive and protect my children”, she added.
Mrs. Edith Izibili emphasised that apart from the fear that some members of cult group and unknown assailants are after her son, she is equally scared of diabolical and fetish attack from her co-wife who has threatened to kill her and her children for the sake of her husband’s property.
“Our husband was a carpenter and I had a jewellery shop, which I was using to sustain myself, my husband and my family. Due to frequent crises emanating from our polygamous home, my son Bright had to drop out of school to learn how to barb; and was later helped to own his own shop in Saint Saviour area of Benin City.”, Mrs. Edith Izibili added
Ever since our husband died, my family has never known peace. My son Bright was unjustly accused of killing his own client who came to patronise him. How can you justify that?” she queried.
The co-incidence is very frightening. The several fetish threats by my co-wife, the attacks by some cult group who earlier pretended to be my son’s friend and the resultant murder and subsequent accusation as well as the prosecution of my son Bright only direct to the facts that myself and my children are in great danger and no longer safe.
“Even when my son was judicially discharged and set free from the murder case on February 15, 2016; the father of the victim (name withheld), who is a prominent police officer, vowed to send my son Bright to early grave. He is determined to find my son guilty at all cost or kill him to avenge the death of his son”, Mrs. Izibili”, concluded
Investigation reveals that the said Bright Izibili has earlier been attacked by unknown cult group rumoured to be on the payroll of the father of the deceased, who is said to have given instructions that Bright Izibili be killed. Some sources who chose to remain anonymous have claimed that he is boasting that he will certainly eliminate Bright Izibili at all cost.
There is some uncertainty, however, over the whereabouts of Bright Izibili as at press time. There are indications that he might have escape for fear of his life, realizing the forces he is up against and coupled with the fact that his main adversaries not only have reputation for diabolical inclination, but are also violently ruthless, according to some sources who chose to be anonymous.
As at the time of filing in this report, the whereabouts of Bright Izibili could not be ascertained as his mother have called on the security agencies to help protect herself and the members of the family.