Tobias Sylvester
Maria Oredola Igbinedion, the mother of former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, was reportedly strangled to death by her housemaid at her residence in Ugbor, GRA, Benin-City, the State capital.
It was gathered that Maria who passed away at the age of 85 on Thursday, December 2, did not die of old age neither was she nursing an ailment.
Sources close to the family said the Octogenarian was strangled by her maid who ransacked her home for jewelry and money before disappearing into thin air.
Maria Igbinedion, who had remained confined to a wheelchair since her 80th birthday, managed to survive the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A close family source told PM News Nigeria on the phone that security forces have been alerted with a view to tracking the runaway maid who hailed from Cross River State.
The source said, “Maria had remained confined to a wheelchair since her 80th birthday, unable to move around. Efforts are being made to track and apprehend the killer thief who is reportedly from Cross River State.
“Any amount, I repeat, any amount will be paid for information leading to the arrest of this girl. She is a murder suspect and is wanted by the police and Benin people.”
Efforts to seek confirmation from the State Police Command spokesman, SP Kontongs Bello failed, as his phone was switched off at the time of filing this report.
Maria Oredola was the first wife of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion. She is survived by her husband, former Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, Bright Igbinedion, Charles Igbinedion and Mabel Amadin and many grandchildren.
Meanwhile, a Nigerian girl has narrated how she escaped death by faking madness after the alleged killing of two other Nigerian housemaids in Saudi Arabia.
