A retired nurse, Mrs. Esther Amali, and her housemaid, Mercy Mwuese, were stabbed to death in their residence around the Federal Low Cost area of Makurdi, Benue State capital. The incident occurred on a Sunday at around 4:30 pm.
According to an eyewitness, the assailant entered the compound and attacked the housemaid, who was in her 20s, while the retired nurse was away. There are conflicting versions of the motive for the attack. One version suggests that the housemaid was impregnated by a rival cultist, leading to the assailant’s aggression. Another version claims that the housemaid had a dispute with the attacker over his friend, whom she accused of being responsible for her pregnancy and the father of her baby.
The attacker allegedly scaled a fence to gain access to the house. Upon returning home, the retired nurse was met with the noise of the attack on the housemaid. Despite her pleas, the assailant continued to stab the housemaid until she lost consciousness. Subsequently, the retired nurse was also stabbed multiple times.
Neighbors arranged for transportation to take both victims to the hospital. However, the retired nurse passed away before reaching the hospital. The bodies were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, and a neighbor took custody of the baby left behind by the housemaid.
The Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, promised to provide further information on the incident when contacted. As of the time of reporting, she had not yet provided additional details.
