Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Kogi State Police Command, are hard-pressed trying to unravel how a monkey allegedly shot dead by a 65-year-old hunter, Clement Etila Ekele, transformed turned into his 45-year-old younger brother, Monday Ekele.
The tragic incident happened on July 16, this year at Ikaka village in Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State, as the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu told Sunday Sun.
On the ill-fated day, Monday, the deceased, went to the farm about 5.00am. Three hours later, about 8.00am, Clement also went to the farm with his double barrel gun. At the farm, he saw a monkey on a tree and shot it. The monkey fell down.
When he ran to the foot of the tree to pick up the monkey, Clement said that what he saw was the dead body of his brother.
At the headquarters of the Kogi State police command where he has been detained while investigation into the matter is in progress, 65-year-old Clement, who hails from Ibaji Local Government Area of the state recalled the experience this way:
“I hunt for monkeys. I have never had any misunderstanding with my younger brother, Monday Ekele. On that day, he went to the farm before me. Later I also went to the farm with my gun. There, I saw a monkey on the tree. I shot the monkey but when I wanted to carry the dead monkey, it changed into my younger brother. I didn’t know what came over me; I couldn’t understand myself.
I ran back to the village and I started drinking beer and rejoicing. Later, I told my friend Anthony that I shot my younger brother dead.”
He spoke further:
“The gods I worship failed me because I refused to perform certain sacrificial rites. They became angry with me; I have been a hunter for years, I never shot anybody. Why must I kill my own brother? We live together, our houses are opposite each other. I have been having misunderstanding with the people in my community. They only envy me.”
When his friend broke the tragic news to the villagers, some of the people rushed to the police to report the incident as the deceased was the chairman of the local vigilance group.
In the quest to learn more, Sunday Sun visited Ikaka village and met Ali Ibrahim, who shed light on the tragic incident.
Ibrahim told Sunday Sun that the suspect, Clement, believed so much in charms and had been terrorizing the villagers with his prowess in diabolic practice.
“When we heard that he shot his brother, Monday, who was the chairman of the vigilance group. Before this incident happened, he would always threaten to deal with anybody that crossed his path. He often carried out the threat. So he has been a terror to us.
People in our village were so afraid of him, and were under some kind of bondage when he was around. As it is now, we don’t want him to come back to the village again. He has dealt with several of his opponents,” Ibrahim said.
The officer in charge of the Homicide Section, Kogi Police Command, Supol Mohammed Balarabe, disclosed that detectives who visited the home of the suspect, found the dane gun allegedly used by Clement to commit the alleged crime.
Meanwhile, the deceased has been buried while the suspect is awaiting arraignment in court by the police, for murder.
