An Edo State-born pastor, Henry Ojochunu Ekukpe, reportedly left a letter behind before fleeing his residence following allegations that he stabbed his 29-year-old wife, Patience Ekukpe, to death.
Ekukpe, the pastor of the Mountain of Victory and Fire Deliverance Ministry aka Power and Prophetic Church, had allegedly had run-ins with his wife in the past, leading the victim to leave their matrimonial home.
However, witnesses said he suddenly invited her back with a promise to change all what had caused quarrels between them, which apparently was a pretext to harm her.
In a note left behind by the fleeing pastor, these questions were asked: “Have we ever in life went to beg for food ever since we got married? Has your mother ever brought food for us to eat one day because of hunger? Have I not told you at the beginning that I hate someone insulting me? In the first place, did you really come out with your own full mind? Did you come to marry me because of money or for who I am? Who gave you the order to pack your property away from our home? Who is your adviser in this marriage that is polluting your mind against me? You always pray that God should help you to eat the fruit of your labour? So, no man has the power to take one’s life but today we are going together. So how do you feel now?”
The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, Abiodun Osifo, who spoke to The Guardian, described the incident as barbaric, adding that the culprit will soon be apprehended and brought to justice.