Husband, Mother-in-law Arrested For Wife’s Murder

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 31-year-old man, Isaac Ajisegiri, for the alleged murder of his wife, Endurance.

Also arrested are his mother, Florence, and sister, Esther.

We learnt that Endurance was killed at her home located at 1 Ajani Salawu Street, Shasha, Lagos, on Saturday.

Police authorities said she was slit in the throat with a knife in her kitchen.

The victim’s brother, Caleb Agbobonye, told our correspondent that the marriage was fraught with problems before the couple reconciled recently.

He said, 

“They have been married for about four years and they had a child together. They also run an education consulting firm not too far from their house.

“Problem started after Isaac was accused of having an affair with one of their employees. They fought over the issue for quite some time. She even moved out of the house but they later reconciled.

“On Saturday, one Stanley, who happens to be Isaac’s friend, came to pick her (Endurance) from the office, saying her husband’s family were waiting for her at the house to resolve a dispute.”

Agbobonye said on Sunday morning, Stanley called Endurance’s relatives informing them that she was dead and that her body had been taken to Crystal Hospital.

Our correspondent, who visited the couple’s home, learnt that the matter was reported at Shasha Police Division on Sunday.

Some neighbours said on the condition of anonymity reported the case to the police.

Asked if the couple had a history of domestic violence, one of the neighbours said,

“There are four flats in this compound and we all mind our own business.

“We don’t know if they fight. All we know is that we saw the family carrying her corpse and we observed that her neck was slit so we went to report at the police station.”

At the station, policemen on duty said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

When our correspondent visited the Homicide Department of the SCID, the suspects were seen writing statements.

Isaac however said that his wife killed herself with the knife.

The indigene of Kogi State said on the day of the incident, she was acting crazy and would not listen to pleas from the family.

Esther and Florence however did not speak as they looked dumbfounded.

Police sources told our correspondent that investigations were ongoing, adding that Stanley was at large.

Director, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Dr. Josephine Effah-Chukwumah, told our correspondent that her agency had taken up the case.

Effah-Chukwumah lamented that violent crime being perpetuated against women had risen in recent times and said it was time people were more involved in fighting the menace.

She said, 

“Marriage is not a do-or-die affair. Anyone who is in an abusive relationship should feel free to walk out. The neighbours and the police also need to be more involved in this battle so that we can prevent deaths or harm to people.”