The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a housewife, identified as Mrs Eniye Zuokemefa Peter, over alleged complicity in the killing of her husband, a lecturer at the Bayelsa College of Education in Sagbama, Enebraye Zuokemefa Peter, last weekend.
The arrest of Mrs Peter, yesterday, was based on petitions by the family of the deceased and complaints previously of threats to the deceased’s life during domestic squabbles on alleged infidelity and having two children with another woman outside marriage.
The police spokesman in the state, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the arrest, saying she was arrested based on ‘previous threats’.
Daily Trust gathered that the deceased was shot thrice by armed men last Friday after he had transacted business at a Point-of-Sale (POS) along Old Assembly Quarters Road in Ekeki area of Yenagoa, the state capital.
A family member, who pleaded anonymity, said the accused wife had on several occasions threatened to kill her husband over allegation of fathering children outside their marriage due to her inability to bear him a child.
He said: “The marriage was filled with turbulence with the woman leaving her matrimonial home on several occasions but they recently made up when the husband arrived in Yenagoa from a study trip abroad.”
It was also gathered that the deceased lecturer had in the past come under attack by armed men in0 his home.
“He was always heard telling family members and close friends to hold his wife responsible if anything happened to him,’’ some neighbours said.
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on security agencies and the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, to fish out his killers.
The IYC president, Peter Timothy Igbifa, in a statement condemned the killing of Zuokemefa, describing it as barbaric, unacceptable and irresponsible.
He said the deceased was a firm believer in the Ijaw cause, an apostle of peace and a scholar, who did not deserve to die in such a violent manner.
He said the deceased was one of the staunch members of the IYC, who once contested the presidency and secretarial positions of the council, adding that he pursued all his ambitions peacefully without resorting to violence.
