Three persons have been killed at Ibillo in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State over ownership of a bitter leaf plant.
The victims were butchered on Sunday evening by a man popularly known as Alhaji.
Names of the deceased were given as Aliu Ademo, a girl called Favour and a three-year old boy, Isaac.
Witnesses said Alhaji had quarrel with late Favour over the bitter leaf plant because he did not seek the consent of the owner before plucking some to make soup.
The witness said, “Alhaji who is from Igbira came out with a cutlass and beheaded the girl. Mr Aliu saw what happened and started shouting. Alhaji ran after Isaac the little boy to kill him but Aliu pursued him in order to save the boy. He succeeded in killing both the small boy and Mr Aliu.
“He decided to kill the man because he came to save the little boy. The small boy was rushed to the hospital because he was still unconscious but we later heard he died this morning (Monday).
Alhaji is on the run now but the police is looking for him”.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Stephen Onwechei, confirmed the incident but said the suspect was on the run.
“He will be arrested. He abandoned his cutlass and took off after killing. When people came around to stop him, he matcheted them including the three year old child.
“That is barbaric. I understand he previously had quarrel with the mother of the child over the ownership of the bitter leaf in the compound. That is madness but we must arrest him no matter how far he tries to run. He must face justice for his wicked act,” he declared.
