BENIN CITY: A widow, Mrs Helen Pekoz and her children are now living at the mercy of God following the alleged attacks by some family elders who are bent on forcefully taking over her late husband’s property in Ivue- Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo.
Their ordeal which has led to her only son, Pekoz Joshua fleeing into hiding since June 14,2017, began shortly after their father, Pa James Pekoz passed away on February 15, 2017.
The NIGERIAN OBSERVER learnt that prior to his death, Pa James Pekoz was not in speaking terms with some of his relatives and elders of the community following his refusal to partake in all traditional events in the community which negate his Christian faith.
”He was considered a rebel and consequently barred from Community’s Elder Council”, sources in the community told our correspondent who visited the area recently.
”Some of his relatives were not happy too as his action was said to have constantly brought them into disrepute with the entire community”, the sources added.
Our reporter further scooped that following Pa Pekoz’s death, the family elders wanted his children to publicly renounce the decision of their late father and be integrated into the community affairs. But Pekoz Joshua being the only male child, refused to accent to their demand.
” It was at this point that the family elders conspired to evict him and his siblings from their late father’s property and possibly banish them from the community. They were told to vacate their home or risk being killed”, the sources narrated.
The matter was said to have degenerated on May 24, 2017 when the angry family elders allegedly recruited some youths in the community to forcefully evict the embattled family from their late father’s property.
”There was fracas; Pekoz and his siblings were beaten and badly wounded. They eventually fled the home to seek refuge in a nearby village”.
Determined to get rid of him and possibly take possession of his late father’s property , Pekoz Joshua was allegedly trailed to his friend’s abode where he had taken refuge in a nearby village.
The attackers who were alleged to be armed with guns and battle axe, stormed the home on the night of June 14, 2017 and sought to eliminate Pekoz and his friend. ”They were however lucky to have escaped death by the whiskers after the attackers set the building ablaze”,our sources revealed.
Based on the obvious threats to his life, his mother, Mrs Mrs Helen Pekoz , petitioned the Commissioner of Police , seeking police protection for her son Pekoz Joshua.
It was also learnt that despite the complaint to the police, no arrest was made to bring the attackers to justice.
The NIGERIAN OBSERVER gathered that following the latest attempt on his life, Pekoz Joshua together with his friend, have gone into hiding as they fear that the police may have been compromised by the family elders who are desperate to take over his late father’s property.
Meanwhile, our correspondent reports that the said property is now lying in ruins with the windows and doors broken and part of the corrugated iron roof removed.
Attempt to speak with an elder of the Pekoz family was rebuffed with a stern warning to our correspondent not poke his nose into a family feud.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Pekoz Joshua remains unknown at the time of filing in this report.
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