A man identified as Seth has been arrested by the Rivers State Police Command for allegedly macheting his father to death at Pipeline area of Rumukwurushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The command confirmed the arrest on Thursday, saying investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances and motive behind the alleged killing, reports The PUNCH.
The incident reportedly followed repeated confrontations between the deceased and his son over the latter’s alleged consumption of a hard liquor known as Ice.
A neighbour, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity, said the suspect, believed to be in his 20s, allegedly attacked his father inside their residence while his mother was away at work.
According to the neighbour, the suspect’s mother, who is a teacher, returned from work to find the house in disarray.
She reportedly saw her husband lying on the floor but initially thought he was asleep. However, after noticing the condition of the house, she called for help.
The neighbour said people who responded to the distress call discovered that the man was dead, while the suspect allegedly locked himself inside the room where his father’s body was found.
The commotion reportedly attracted members of a local vigilante group and the police, who forced the door open.
The suspect was allegedly found with bloodstains on his hands and reportedly admitted to killing his father.
The neighbour, however, said the immediate trigger for the alleged attack remained unclear, noting that the incident could have followed a quarrel over food or another domestic issue.
She said the deceased had previously confronted his son several times over his alleged drinking habit, which reportedly caused tension between them.
The suspect was also alleged to have attacked his father with a machete, inflicting multiple injuries, including wounds around his neck.
A video circulating on social media showed the deceased’s grieving wife narrating the incident to officials believed to be members of a vigilante group.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Blessing Agabe, said the suspect had been arrested.
“Yes, I can confirm. The suspect in question has been arrested, while investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Agabe said.
Police investigations are expected to determine the events leading to the alleged killing and the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s actions.
