A minor dispute over ₦1,000 has ended in tragedy, as a man identified as Ezekiel admitted before the police that he fatally struck a relative during a heated argument, despite repeated pleas from family members to calm down.
Ezekiel, who spoke during police interrogation, said the incident occurred in the heat of the moment and was never intended to result in death.
“It was by mistake. I didn’t know when I hit him,” he said, adding that several relatives, including the deceased, had tried unsuccessfully to pacify him as tensions escalated.
He explained that the ₦1,000 at the centre of the disagreement was a contribution made for burial rites, a sum he claimed was customarily returned to the contributor after the ceremony.
“After everything, they always share it. That’s how we return the money to the owner,” Ezekiel stated, suggesting that the misunderstanding over the tradition triggered the confrontation.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, described the development as a needless loss of life and cautioned the public against allowing anger to override reason, especially over trivial matters.
Edafe said the case underscored the dangers of unchecked emotions, warning that what starts as a simple argument could quickly spiral into a criminal act with irreversible consequences.
“Mine is to talk to our listeners to understand the importance of controlling your temper. You have to calm down. Any form of fighting could lead to death. It can turn into manslaughter. It could turn to murder,” he warned.
The police spokesman urged citizens to embrace restraint and dialogue in resolving disputes, stressing that no provocation was worth the loss of human life.
“Please, a word they say is enough for the wise. Prevention is better than cure,” Edafe concluded.
The suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue, while the tragic incident has left the affected family and community in deep mourning.
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