Residents of Ikot Effanga Mkpa community in Calabar Municipality local government area of Cross River State are said to be living in fear as a prominent business man in the area was allegedly murdered.
It was gathered that the 62 -year-old father of three, Mr. Vitalis Okoro alias Egokent, was allegedly beaten to death by unsuspected persons who entered his house through the window early hours of Tuesday.
After killing him, they reportedly dragged his corpse into his vehicle and drove off, but later abandoned the vehicle some few kilometres from his house.
Dr. Andrew Bassey, a resident in the area, told Vanguard that the community is still at a loss as to what happened and is yet to come to grips with the immediate and remote causes of that tragedy.
His words: “I think the murderers might have come from the back door because if they had knocked the main door, we would have heard and raised an alarm. But when I heard a shout from the apartment, I woke up.
I wanted to call the police but I did not have credit on my phone.
“It happened very fast and I do not think they were robbers. They came just to kill him and it’s a pity”, he lamented.
Moses Chidebere Okoro, the younger brother to the deceased, described the death of his brother as a very sad event that has left the family in deep shock and grief.
Moses said his elder brother was a businessman who faced some challenges due to the economic situation in the country and with the help of family members, he decided to auction his property in Calabar so as to facilitate his relocation and re-establishment in Imo State, his home town.
According to him, “My brother had been at loggerheads with his wife for the past four to five years now, and so many attempts were made to settle the issue but to no avail. They got married in court and not in the church and ever since they married, there has always been trouble all through.
“She is a nice lady and likes welcoming people. She also encourages her husband to assist other people. That is one good thing about her, but she is too troublesome and stubborn.
Meanwhile, Chinwe Okoro, wife of the deceased who is considered a prime suspect in the crime is in police custody. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the immediate and remote cause of the tragedy.
ASP Irene Ugbo, the Police Public Relations Officer, had confirmed the incident.
Ugbo said the police are investigating matter, adding that the matter has been transferred from the Federal Housing Police Station to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for comprehensive investigations.
