Grieving widow demands justice for son allegedly killed by occult group
A heartbroken widow, Mrs. Bose Ochuwa Ozemoya, in Ihievbe community in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, has appealed for justice following the brutal killing of her son, John Ozemoya, allegedly by members of the notorious Ogboni Society.
The killing occurred at her husband’s residence on 9, Ihievbe-Afuze Road, Ihievbe Community, at about 7:21 P.M. on Monday, April 29, 2019.
According to the widow, her ordeal began on January 7, 2018, when her husband, Chief Inegbedion Ozemoya, fell ill under mysterious circumstances and died eight days later.
Mrs. Ozemoya explained further that following the death of her husband, members of the dreaded Ogboni Society, who had initiated her husband into their fold years earlier, began pressuring John to undergo initiation, claiming that his father had already marked him as a replacement in their group, claiming that she was unaware of her husband’s involvement with the society and its intentions for her son.
“My son John refused to comply with their demands, and the Ogboni members reportedly threatened to kill him. Fearing for his life, John fled to Libya, hoping the threats would subside. After some time, he received assurances from the group that the pressure would stop if he returned home. Trusting their word, John decided to come back to Nigeria, only to be tragically murdered by the same group.
“On the night of his death, John was sitting outside our home when four men arrived in a car. He recognized one of them and called out, Ali, what do you people want in my house again? The men ordered him to get into their vehicle, but John refused.
“A confrontation ensued, and suddenly, I heard two gunshots. Rushing toward the car, I found my son lying lifeless on the ground. Despite efforts to rush him to the hospital, John succumbed to his gunshot wounds”, she narrated.
When our reporter visited the ancestral compound of late Chief Inegbedion in Ihievbe community, scene of murder, yesterday, sympathisers amongst whom were bereaved family members expressed shock at the gruesome killing of John described as a jolly-good fellow.
In a petition to the Commissioner of police, Edo State, through Auchi Area Commander Mrs. Ozemoya said she immediately reported the incident to the police, providing detailed evidence of the threats her son had received and naming the men involved.
However, despite her desperate plea for justice, the investigation has yet to make significant progress, leaving her to grapple with the painful loss of her son.
When contacted, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, confirmed that an investigation into the incident was underway.
Our correspondent investigation revealed that the Ogboni Society, deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition, has long been linked to illicit activities such as ritual killings, human sacrifices, intimidation, and is famous for its widespread influence in Nigerian politics, Judiciary and economy.
