Warri – Tragedy struck in the early hours of Wednesday at Okpare town in Olomu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, as son hacked his father, an Anglican Bishop, to death with a machete.
The culprit, Ufuoma Umurie, said to have a mental health challenge, macheted his father in his sleep in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The Anglican Bishop’s name was given as Rev. Isaac Umurie of the St. John’s Anglican Church, Okpare-Olomu in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.
The wife of the slain bishop and mother of the culprit was said to have narrowly escaped the attack that occurred at about 2am. The suspect allegedly chased his mother around while she attempted rescuing her husband during the attack.
The deceased, Rev. Umurie, was a priest preparing for his retirement at St. John’s Anglican Church before his 28-year-old son macheted him to death.
Sources said the attack was Ufuoma’s second time of going after the life of the man of God.
Ufuoma, who is already in police custody, reportedly mutilated his father’s skull and other parts of his body in his sleep.
It was gathered that neighbours and church members couldn’t do much to salvage the situation after gaining access to the bishop’s apartment.
“This is the second time Ufuoma is attacking his father. The other time, he beat him, and the Okpare-Olomu vigilante held him, but the father pleaded that he should not be taken to the police station. We heard that he is not mentally stable.
“In today’s incident, he hacked the father with a cutlass, burst his skull, and mutilated other parts of his body. The priest has a few years to retire. He was brought closer home because of his retirement before this unfortunate incident,” a source in the town told an online medium.
The suspect is said to be cooling off his feet at the Otu-Jeremi Divisional Police Headquarters of the Delta State Police Command.
Reacting to the gruesome murder, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident, said the assailant would be investigated and prosecuted accordingly.