A shocking case of family violence has emerged from Ogun State, where a housewife and her four sons have been arrested for allegedly tying up and attempting to harm their father, a retired civil servant, over a dispute concerning his retirement benefits. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, March 13, at their home in Oko-Filling, Araromi, Ijoko, Sango Ota.
The retired man was discovered bound and gagged inside his house, left for dead after a violent altercation with his wife and children. His ordeal was only uncovered after neighbors, disturbed by strange noises coming from the house, forced their way in and discovered the horrifying scene.
The incident began early in the morning when neighbours were alerted by unusual sounds emanating from the home of the retired civil servant. A neighbour described how concerned residents, unable to ignore the noise, gathered outside the house to investigate what was happening.
He explained, “They got some Aboki men, about six of them, to tie him up. It was the strange noise from their parking that alerted residents who gathered in front of the house to know what was happening.”
As the residents investigated, they noticed a small bus (Korope) parked outside, seemingly filled with belongings. When they asked the wife and sons about the missing man, the response was unconvincing. The neighbours, growing more suspicious, broke into the house and were confronted by a horrifying sight.
“The man was tied like an animal to be slaughtered,” the landlord continued. “They saw the man completely bound, with the Aboki people still inside the house, as though they were waiting to kill him.”
Inside, they found the retired civil servant in a distressed state, bound tightly and gagged, with no immediate explanation for his condition. The group of hired men, referred to as “Aboki men,” was still present in the house when the neighbours arrived, indicating that the violent act had not yet been completed.
The underlying cause of this horrific act is a bitter dispute over the man’s retirement benefits. According to reports, the retired civil servant had used part of his retirement funds to provide for his family, including giving his wife N3 million to open two shops and buying himself a N12 million car. Despite these significant provisions, his wife and four sons, all university graduates, were reportedly dissatisfied and demanded more money from the funds.
It is alleged that the wife and children felt entitled to a larger share of the retirement money, leading to an escalation of tensions in the family. This conflict eventually culminated in the violent attempt to subdue the father, who was viewed as the source of the family’s financial support.
A source close to the investigation revealed that the wife had enlisted the help of several men to carry out the assault. “One of the Aboki men confessed it was the man’s wife who contracted them to tie him up,” the source said. This revelation suggests that the wife played a central role in orchestrating the violence against her husband.
Following the discovery, the elderly man was untied and immediately rushed to the hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment. The extent of his injuries is still unknown, but it is clear that he narrowly avoided what could have been a fatal assault.
The police were notified of the incident, and the woman, her four sons, and the hired men were arrested. The suspects were promptly taken to the police station for questioning. One of the Aboki men, who was apprehended at the scene, admitted that he had been hired by the wife to carry out the violent act.
At the time of writing, the family members are facing serious charges, including attempted murder, assault, and conspiracy. The police are continuing their investigation into the matter to determine if any further arrests will be made.
The incident has left the local community in shock. Neighbors who witnessed the disturbing scene expressed disbelief that such an act of violence could occur within a family. Many were particularly taken aback by the involvement of the children in the crime, as all four sons are reported to be university graduates.
“This is something no one could have imagined,” said another resident of the area. “To see a man who worked so hard for his family treated in such a cruel way is heartbreaking. We never thought something like this could happen here.”
The case has also sparked wider discussions about family dynamics, greed, and the lengths to which some individuals will go when disputes arise over money. In a country where economic pressures are high, it is not uncommon for financial disagreements to strain family relationships. However, the brutal nature of this particular incident has drawn widespread condemnation.
This incident is not an isolated case, as financial disputes have been a recurring theme in many cases of family violence in Nigeria. Retirement benefits, inheritance, and property sharing are common sources of tension among families, especially when money is perceived to be the source of power and security. While disagreements over finances are commonplace, few escalate to the level of violence seen in this case.
