SABONGIDA-ORA – The desire to inherit in perpetuity, a farmland belonging to the Okon’s family in Sabongida Ora, in Owan West local government area of Edo State by one Mr. Akwa Desmond has claimed some lives and sown an irreconcilable discord among the family members.

The consequential angst, quarrel and persistent threats to lives and properties eventually led to the gruesome and mysterious murder of one Damian Okon suspected to have been killed by his uncle, Mr. Akwa Desmond on March 18, 2016 at Sabongida Ora, while the deceased brother who was with him at the farm during the fracas was reported to have escape into hiding for fear of his life.

According to family source who pleaded anonymity, “ever since the demise of the patriarch of the family, Pa Okon and the consequent burial rites; his family, that is: his wife and children; Sunday, Shedrach and Damian Okon have never known peace following the demands by Mr. Akwa Desmond on the deceased family to vacate both the family house and a farmland previously being cultivated by the deceased.

“Since their father died, each time their uncle meet them at the family farmland, he always become very violent and diabolical.

“This was the same thing he did on the 18 of March when he violently killed Damian with a cutlass in the farm. His other brothers, Sunday Okon and Shedrach Okon were however lucky to have escaped unhurt and were traced to the house to receive the beating of their lives by some suspected cultists and hoodlums presumably hired by their uncle, Mr. Okon Akwa”, the source said

“Before the gruesome and mysterious killing of Damian Okon in March, his pregnant mother was said to have earlier died with the baby in mysterious circumstance following several quarrel and threats to disinherit the deceased family by Mr. Akwa Desmond over family property and inheritance.

“The crisis of the property and inheritance has seriously strained the relationship in the family to the extent that it is being feared that the fight might claim more casualties in the near future”, the source concluded.

Contacted, the Edo State Police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Stanley Osifo said the matter would be investigated to ascertain the level of involvement of Mr. Akwa Desmond in the crisis as well as the threats to lives and murder of the mother and son.

However, as at the time of filing in this report, the whereabouts of Sunday Okon and Shedrach could not be ascertained as they were said to have escaped into hiding for fear of being killed either physically or through diabolical means by their uncle, Mr. Akwa Desmond, who is alleged to be very ruthless and amorally reputed for violence according to some family sources.