By Gabriel Elozino
The tragic death of a man, Ukoliko Samuel in Okpare community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State was the aftermath of a minor dispute over N500 “kola money”.
Although the case is still under investigation by the homicide department of the Delta State Police Command, the painful incident which occurred on December 7 2024 threw the entire community into tragedy.
The deceased, Othuke Aaron was a man in his late 40s, a father of five and also a grandfather while the alleged killer, Ukoliko Samuel is a father of four; both men were not only good friends but also business partners as they were both fishermen.
Narrating the ordeal, a relative of the deceased, Mr Nduka explained that the tragedy occured after Samuel and Aaron attended a ceremony together with three other friends were they sat at the same table and were entertained with drinks.
They also received ₦2,500 as support for kola, which traditionally was supposed to be shared equally among the five of them.
He said: “When they got there, they were entertained with drinks, and they now supported them with a kola of ₦2,500. Samuel told his friend Aaron, that he had to attend to some issues and would be back. When Samuel returned, he discovered that the others, including his friend Aaron, had left.”
“Samuel later inquired from his friend Aaron about his ₦500 share of the “Kola money”, explaining that it was his rightful portion since the gift was meant to be divided among the five of them. Aaron, however, claimed that he was not given his (Samuel’s) share and advised Samuel to ask the person who distributed it.”
“Samuel insisted that Aaron should have collected his share on his behalf, considering their close ties and the fact that he had informed Aaron of his temporary absence. This disagreement soon escalated into a heated argument and eventually turned physical.”
In the course of the fight, Aaron reportedly ran into his house, put on a ring, and returned to confront Samuel. He gave Samuel a punched who fell on the tarred road and immediately lost consciousness.
The relative described the horrific incident: “His nose, ears, and mouth started gushing out blood and was later rushed to a hospital in Oleh, where he was confirmed dead by the doctor who called in the Police in Oleh.
Aaron, been among those who rushed Samuel to the hospital, was immediately apprehended by the Police in Oleh Division. “He spent four days at the station in Oleh before he was transferred to the Police headquarters in Asaba,” the relative revealed.
Aaron has since expressed deep regret over his actions, saying: “I never intended to kill him; I didn’t know he would die. Even his fishing net is in my house.”
Confirming the incident, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, said investigations are ongoing. “We can confirm the incident, and preliminary investigations are being conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic death, assuring the public that law will take it’s cause” he stated.
The death of Ukoliko Samuel has not only thrown the community into mourning but has generated widespread reaction on how a disagreement over ₦500 could lead to the unfortunate loss of life.
