If one Mrs. Silifat Yakubu had known that her husband and father of her three sons would callously butcher her to death, she would have probably had a second thought about their marriage.
Silifat was allegedly killed by her husband, Ismail Yakubu, at Igbele, near Araromi Ale Olorunda Local Council Development Area, along Badagry Expressway in Lagos and the Nigerian Police are currently investigating more on the case.
Although details surrounding the death of Iya Lugo, as Silifat was popularly called, are still sketchy, it was however gathered that the mutilated body of the deceased was found in a small river located at the community’s entrance, where she was supposedly dumped after she was murdered.
According to an eyewitness, some of the victim’s body parts, such as her eyes, breasts and uterus, were allegedly missing when her corpse was found by passersby, suggesting that she must have been murdered for ritual purposes.
Narrating what he saw, one Ambimbola Sule, a commercial motorcyclist in the area, said: “Residents in the community woke up on Saturday morning to find the lifeless body of a woman inside the river that leads into Igbele.
Initially, people could not identify the person because her face had several cuts. She was wearing a lace gown, with no under wears.”
It was also learnt that since the incident involved the loss of life, community leaders had to involve the police from Area K Command, who began investigation into the incident.
While investigating the case, the police arrested several persons, many of whom had since been released.
According to reports, the deceased’s husband, who was arrested on Sunday, confessed to killing his wife on Friday night because a prophet told him she was using his star.
He purportedly dumped the corpse in the river at night, after his attempts to take her far away failed because his bus developed fault.
A neighbour, Iya Korede, who lives near the victim’s shop, noted that Silifat was jovial, hardworking and troubled no one.
She also described the deceased as a trader who sold household utensils in her container shop, located a few blocks from hers.
Iya Korede added: “Most of the people in the area do not know her husband because he goes early to work and comes back late. But his wife is a very hard working woman. She built the house they live in.
“As if that was not enough, she bought a commercial bus for him. What else does he want? If he was tired of the marriage, he should have driven her away instead of killing her.
“The world is truly a wicked place. How can a man kill his own wife? The same woman who bore him three male children, for goodness sake? It is only God that will save us.”
A member of the Landlord Association said: “We do not know what this community has become. Just as we are still lamenting the gruesome murder of this woman, armed robbers struck last night.
“At present, residents are living in fear. Once it is 7p.m., you will not find anyone outside. And this is affecting our business.
“Lagos State government and relevant authorities should please come to our aid before things get out of hand.”
While confirming the reports, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, stated that the suspect was currently in police custody and had made confessional statements that he actually committed the crime.
But that the case is still under investigation.