A tragic incident unfolded in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, when a jealous husband brutally murdered a prominent church leader after suspecting him of an affair with his wife. Dr. Sina Olaribigbe, a bishop at Rapture Empowerment International Church, was stabbed to death by the enraged husband early Thursday morning, in what police are calling a domestic dispute turned deadly.
The attack took place in the BCGA area, near the Olorunda Local Government Secretariat. According to eyewitnesses and local authorities, the bishop had been trying to mediate a long-standing marital conflict between the couple, but his efforts tragically ended in violence.
A Dispute Fueled by Suspicion
The suspect, whose identity is yet to be officially disclosed, had reportedly been growing increasingly suspicious of his wife’s relationship with the bishop. Sources close to the couple claim that the wife had been living apart from her husband for some time due to unresolved issues. However, despite the separation, Dr. Olaribigbe had been called upon to serve as an intermediary, attempting to restore peace between the estranged partners.
One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that Dr. Olaribigbe had been visiting the wife’s home to offer counseling. “The bishop had been helping them resolve their differences,” the source said. “It seemed like things were getting better, but that wasn’t enough to stop the jealousy from consuming the husband.”
According to local reports, the husband learned that the bishop was at his wife’s residence on the morning of the attack. Blinded by rage and suspicion, he followed the clergyman to the house, where a confrontation quickly escalated.
A Murder in Cold Blood
It was around 6:00 AM when the bishop, who had been staying at the wife’s home for a reconciliation session, was fatally attacked. The jealous husband stormed into the house and stabbed Dr. Olaribigbe multiple times in the chest, leaving him to die in the same bed where he had been attempting to resolve the marital rift.
Isaac Oyeleye, a member of the Rapture Empowerment International Church, was among the first to announce the bishop’s tragic passing. In an emotional Facebook post, Oyeleye described the event as “shocking and heartbreaking,” calling Dr. Olaribigbe a man who dedicated his life to helping others. “Our bishop was a man of peace, and we cannot understand how something so senseless could happen,” he wrote.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The Osun State Police Command quickly responded to the scene, and the suspect was apprehended along with his wife. The police spokesperson, CSP Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident, revealing that the husband and wife were not legally separated, despite their physical separation. She explained that Dr. Olaribigbe had been playing the role of a mediator between the couple, which ultimately led to his tragic fate.
“We can confirm that the bishop was at the wife’s house to mediate a dispute when the husband arrived and attacked him,” Opalola said. “The suspect is in custody, and the wife is also under investigation. We are working to piece together all the details surrounding this incident.”
The couple had reportedly been living apart for months due to ongoing marital strife, but no formal divorce proceedings had been initiated. Police sources suggest that the attack may have been the result of long-simmering tension and mistrust.
A Pattern of Domestic Violence?
This latest incident adds to the growing concerns about domestic violence in Nigeria. Although domestic abuse cases often involve physical violence, the motive behind the murder of Dr. Olaribigbe appears to stem from jealousy and betrayal. Experts in family dynamics suggest that such killings are often the result of unresolved emotional issues, lack of communication, and in some cases, misplaced pride or possessiveness.
Dr. Olaribigbe’s murder follows a disturbing pattern of violent incidents tied to marital disputes. Just months earlier, another tragic killing occurred in Lagos, where a husband murdered his newlywed wife in a fit of rage. In yet another recent case, a man fatally attacked his pregnant wife, reportedly over jealousy and infidelity.
