Allegedly, a shocking incident took place in Ebonyi State involving a 42-year-old man named Mr. Nkwuda Chukwudi Vincent from Ndiogbu in Ndieze autonomous community, Izzi LGA. He reportedly slit his cousin’s throat, Mr. Nkwuda Chukwuka, over a dispute regarding branches from a tree felled on their family land.
The event unfolded on a Monday when the suspect, Mr. Vincent, who serves as an assistant catechist at St Samuel Station, Ndiogbu, Ndieze autonomous community, cut down a tree along the land’s boundary.
Mr. Chukwuka, recuperating in Sudan Missionary Hospital, Iboko, narrated the incident to NewsNow. Trouble brewed when he found his cousin, Mr. Vincent, harvesting branches from a tree on their property.
According to Mr. Chukwuka, the suspect claimed their father had instructed them to fell the tree for yam stakes.
Recalling the altercation, the victim shared, “I confronted my cousin upon discovering him cutting branches from our land. When I requested a fair share of the branches, he grew hostile, alleging my father sanctioned the tree’s cutting.”
He added, “As tensions escalated and he brandished a cutlass, I defended myself with a log. Shockingly, he slashed my throat with the weapon. I consider my survival a miracle.”
The victim called for a thorough investigation by family and community leaders to bring the perpetrator to justice, highlighting the need to deter such misconduct in the future.
A relative, Mr. Nkwuda Jude Ginika, corroborated the incident’s severity and mentioned ongoing efforts to ensure the victim’s full recovery.
Mr. Jude stated that the family reported the incident to the Iboko Divisional police for proper documentation, intending to adhere to traditional punitive measures against the offender.
Despite attempts, the suspect could not be reached as his phone was off at the time of this report.
Responding to inquiries, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, clarified that the command had not received a formal report on the incident.