A 38-year-old man, John Christopher, has allegedly murdered his wife after she refused to lend him N1,500 in Benin, Edo State.
His wife collapsed and died after John used his trouser’s belt to smack her over a TV remote control.
The problem first started after the woman, 30, refused to lend her husband N1,500 to pay off his debt in his neighbourhood.
The incident happened on Saturday, 26 June 2021.
According to Standard Gazette crime correspondent Festus Alenkhe gathered that the man is currently in police custody of the Homicide department of the Edo State.
Speaking with Standard Gazette, John described his wife as “selfish and rude” for refusing to give him the money.
John, a waste management truck driver in Benin city, has been married to his wife for thirteen years.
The couples have three children, and the oldest is twelve years old.
Speaking with SG, John said, “I am a waste management truck driver in Benin city and has been married to my wife for thirteen years now. We have three children, and the first child is twelve.
“On the 26 days of June 2021, l returned from work around 8 pm and begged my wife to give me the sum of N1,500 so l can add my N500 to make it N2,000 to pay a local debt in the neighbourhood.”
He continued, “But my wife refused, and the next thing I saw was that she collected Television remote to change the TV channel. So I stopped her, and she started insulting me.
That was how I used my trouser belt to hit her, and she collapsed. The neighbour rushed her to the hospital where she died”.
Standard Gazette learned that John attempted to run after realizing his wife was dead but was apprehended by the residents.
He was then handed over to the police at Textile Mill road in Benin city, who handed him over to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Edo state police command for further investigation.
The suspect, who is from Kokori in Delta state but resident in Benin city, is currently lamenting the death of his wife.
Contacted, Edo state Police Public Relations Officer SP Bello Kontongs assured that the man would be charged to court for murder.
He called for calm from the deceased’s family, adding that a diligent investigation would be carried out.
The body of the deceased, Mrs Christopher, who is a petty trader, has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.