Our reporter
A tragic incident unfolded over the weekend in Igue village, Igarra, within the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, when a man, identified as Ojo Atokubo, was fatally shot by a fellow farmer after a dispute over the sharing of cocoa farm proceeds.
The altercation occurred on January 11, 2025, following a heated argument between the suspect, whose identity has yet to be revealed, and Atokubo, who was accused of stealing cocoa produce from their shared plantation.
Sources say the dispute was over the division of their recent cocoa harvest, which had led to escalating tensions between the two men. The victim, a motorcyclist by profession, had allegedly ignored multiple warnings from the suspect prior to the confrontation.
According to eyewitness reports, Atokubo’s son, who was present at the scene, managed to flee the area after witnessing his father’s death. He then went to the Igarra police station to report the incident.
A local source explained, “The suspect confronted Ojo, and a physical fight broke out. The suspect then shot him dead. Afterward, Ojo’s son ran to the police to report the murder.”
In the wake of the shooting, the suspect was arrested by officers from the Igarra police division, and the body of the deceased was transported to a morgue.
It has emerged that the deceased and the suspect were previously business partners, with the late Atokubo’s children having employed the alleged murderer to help manage the cocoa farm.
A source revealed that the suspect had long accused Atokubo of mistrust, a sentiment that reportedly worsened following the death of the eldest Atokubo sibling, Ade, also known as ‘Mighty Man,’ just weeks before the incident.
While police efforts to provide further details on the matter were unsuccessful, the investigation into the fatal shooting is on-going.
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