Brother kills brother over inheritance in Nigeria

Pandemonium broke on No. 55 off Iorkyaa Ako Street, High Level Makurdi, the Benue State capital when a serving Lance Corporal with the Nigeria Air Force in Port Harcourt, Gulenen Hanmaikul allegedly stabbed his elder brother Jacob to death. Weekly Trust learnt that since the death of their father, the family has not known peace over the assets he left behind. August 25, 2011 was one of the days the family scheduled to resolve some issues.
A close associate of the family told Weekly Trust that on the fateful Thursday, when a lawyer arrived with the will the late soldier was said to have left behind, tempers began to flare. The deceased was said to have been dissatisfied with the content of the will, which spelt out everything in favour of his younger brother, Corporal Hanmaikul.
According to our information, the late Jacob accused the mother of partiality, saying the will did not come from the family lawyer and therefore would not be recognized as it was written with her knowledge to favour his younger brother, a situation he said was against Tiv custom. The deceased insisted that the ‘will’ be altered to his advantage, but the mother and the officer disagreed. With this situation, Jacob opted out of the discussion. However, the mother was said to have begged him to see reason.
Corporal Gulenen was said to have been infuriated by his mother’s action which he viewed as degrading and vowed to teach Jacob a lesson. Corporal Gulenen, it was learnt, dashed into his room, came out with a knife and stabbed Jacob, 35, in the chest, killing him. Gulenen was subsequently arrested by Air Force authorities.
At the 45 Air Force Hospital, Makurdi, where the victim’s body has been deposited, a medical officer declined comment over autopsy report. He referred our correspondent to Air Force Public Relations Officer, who was said to have gone on official assignment as at the time of filing this report.
Family members and sympathizers who converged at No. 55 off Iorkyaa Ako Street to accompany Jacob’s body for burial at Tse Hanmaikul Ayila Mbademagu Mbaachia-Gaav Konshisha Local Government Area on 3rd September, 2011 went home disappointed as the Air Force Command is still holding the victim’s corpse at the time of filing this report.
Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Alaribe Ejike said he was yet to be briefed over the matter.