Suspected Cultist Murders Nursing Mother, Retired Nurse in Benue

Mrs. Esther Amali, a retired nurse, and her housemaid, Mercy Mwuese, were stabbed to death by a young man who invaded their residence near the Federal Low Cost in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.

According to a witness, the occurrence took place on a Sunday at about 4:30 pm.

An eyewitness revealed that the suspected murderer entered the compound and assaulted the housemaid, who was in her 20s, while the retired nurse was away.

Two versions circulated regarding the motive for the suspected murderer’s invasion of the house.

One version claimed that the housemaid was impregnated by a member of rival cultists, allegedly involved in the killing of one of their members.

Another version claimed that the deceased housemaid had a disagreement with the suspected murderer over his friend, whom she (Mercy) accused of being responsible for her pregnancy and now being the father of her baby.

It was gathered that the suspected murderer had repeatedly warned the deceased housemaid to refrain from associating his friend with being the father of her baby.

The attacker reportedly scaled a fence to access the house when the retired nurse was not present.

The witness said that it was when the attacker was stabbing the housemaid that the retired nurse returned to the house, greeted by loud noise from the distressed housemaid

The eyewitness said, “As soon as the retired nurse entered and heard the cry of the housemaid, she rushed in only to see a young man stabbing Mercy (housemaid)

“Mama started begging and calling the name of suspected murderer to stop but he could not listen to Mama’s plea as he went on to stab Mercy until she was unconscious and then faced Mama and also stabbed her multiple times.

“Before help could reach Mama (retired nurse)the suspected murderer had escaped.

“But neighbours immediately arranged for a vehicle and conveyed Mama and the housemaid to the hospital.While on the way to the hospital, Mama though, gasping for breath, was able to narrate how the incident happened in a little way.

“Unfortunately both of them lost so much blood and eventually died even before they got to the hospital.

“The matter was immediately reported at the ‘D Division’ Police Station by members of the community and family members of the murdered women.

“Their remains have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi while another neighbour had taken custody of the baby the housemaid left behind.

Meanwhile, the suspect, residing with his parents in the neighborhood before the attack, was reported to have fled the area after the incident

Attempts to seek response from the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, were met with no success.

Kanyi Daily recalls that in Obosi, Anambra State mentally unstable man undergoing deliverance at an undisclosed church had stabbed a fellow worshipper with a cutlass, causing a deep injury.