There was confusion at Ekebeligwe Ishieke community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after a mentally deranged man identified as Godwin Nwibo reportedly killed his father, Lazarus Nwibo.
The 30-year-old Godwin, a native of the community, allegedly strangled his aged father to death while they were sleeping inside their apartment.
Narrating the incident, one of their neighbours, Mr Benjamin Nwogha disclosed that Godwin has been exhibiting traits of mental ailment since January this year, a situation that made his family members to take him to a nearby herbal home for treatment.
The Point gathered, however, that Godwin later escaped from the rehabilitation centre he was taken to about six months after, visited his parents’ apartment and strangled his father while he was sleeping.
According to the source, “Earlier this year, Godwin Nwibo started behaving abnormally by talking to imaginary people. When the strange behaviour persisted, his siblings took him to a nearby herbal home for treatment.
“They always provide for his needs there and pay for treatment. Their father is actually aged and sick.
“Around 8:30am on the 3rd day of August 2024, one of the sons who went to attend to the sick grandpa was alarmed that their father went to bed and was yet to wake up to open his door as at that time. So, the neighbours gathered and forced the door open. Lo and behold, we saw Chief Lazarus Nwibo already dead and his sick son lying down beside him.
“It was a very pathetic scene. No one knew how Godwin left the herbal home and returned to his family compound. We suspect that he would have strangled his father because blood gushed out of the old man’s mouth.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Joshua Ukandu confirmed the report saying that the command was still investigating the matter.
Ukandu disclosed that the mentally deranged man is in police custody.
“The dead man has been deposited at a mortuary while investigation is ongoing. The sick boy (Godwin) is also under police custody pending conclusion of police investigation,” the PPRO noted.
