A 23-year-old bricklayer has been detained on suspicion of murdering and raping his 46-year-old lover's corpse
Adebayo Kingsley, of Ibillo in Edo State's Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, is accused of murdering Rosemary Ifeoma, a widow and mother of four, with a plank.
Rosemary Ifeoma, commonly known as Mama Samuel, of Orogun in Delta State's Ughelli North Local Government Area, is said to have died as a result of the force of the strike.
Adebayo Kingsley is then accused of having sex with her corpse.
He was previously accused of beating his lover's 13-year-old son on the head, after which he attacked the mother, believing the son was dead.
The event took place on Darlington Ogbeifun Street, off Ogbekan Village Road, in Ugbor, Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state.
A local neighbor, who only revealed his first name as Peter, told Vanguard: "This woman, known locally as Mama Samuel, was a widow with four children, the youngest of whom is 13 years old and lives with her.
"She was having trouble paying her rent and approached a woman in the neighborhood whose brother was building a storey building that had been roofed, asking if she could remain there until she could gather enough money from her business to obtain a new place to live.
"She had a lover, a bricklayer, who was coming to see her, and everyone in the neighborhood knew who he was.
"Her 13-year-old son ran to alert neibghours of what had happened early in the morning on July 16 after regaining consciousness from his night battle with the perpetrator.
"He was rushed to the hospital for treatment and later related the suspect's attack on them.
"He led others to the spot where the suspect was working, and as soon as he saw the boy, he ran to his heels until he was pursued and caught by the police."
When confronted, the suspect admitted to the crime but claimed he did not hit the victims with a log.
Adebayo Kingsley said his lover died during an argument.
He stated: "She asked me to assist her with cement for a caravan.
"But when we couldn't agree on how to proceed, she told me I should leave her house. I did leave, but I got stranded and ended up back at the house.
"But by this time, they'd locked the gate, so I jumped through the fence into the compound and into their room.
"Her son threatened to stab me, he entered the room, and returned with a knife. I ran at him and pushed him.
"He collapsed after hitting his head on the wall. The woman then ran after me and grabbed me, but when I tried to push her away, she fell and hit her head on the ground, and blood flowed from her head.
"I immediately carried the boy to his room, placed him on the bed, and then exited. I did not hit anyone with the log, nor did I sleep with the woman."
Kontongs Bello, Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, confirmed the incidence to Vanguard on Tuesday, July 27. He said the suspect would be charged in court after investigations were completed.