Son Kills Mother in Ebonyi Over Money Ritual

A horrific case of matricide has sent shockwaves through the Ukawu community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as a 30-year-old man, Oforbuike Okoro, stands accused of stabbing his mother to death over a bizarre “money ritual” dispute.

The Ebonyi State Police Command arraigned the suspect on Thursday before Magistrate Court II in Abakaliki, where he made a chilling confession regarding the death of his mother, Mrs. Onyema Damian.

According to the police prosecution and preliminary investigations, the tragedy was fueled by the suspect’s desperate quest for quick wealth.

The PPRO, Joshua Ukandu, revealed that Okoro allegedly attacked his mother after she refused to perform a specific ritual on him. The suspect believed that having his mother “bathe” him in a spiritual context was the key to unlocking supernatural riches.

When the elderly woman declined to participate in the strange request, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation, ending with the suspect allegedly stabbing her in the back.

The atmosphere in the courtroom turned somber as the defendant, who had no legal representation, admitted to the crime. While he claimed he could not fully explain the “trance-like” state of the moment, he was clear on the motive.

“I don’t know what really happened, but I can remember that I killed her over her refusal to bathe me,” Okoro told the court.

The Police Prosecutor, David Njoku, stated that the act, which occurred on March 19, 2026, is a capital offense punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State.

The Commissioner of Police, Hope Urunwa Okafor, expressed deep concern over the “increasing cases of homicide” in the state. The Command revealed that in March alone, it had arraigned four other suspects for separate murder cases.

Following the guilty plea and the nature of the charge, Chief Magistrate Chinedu Agama ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to try the matter.

He ordered that the suspect be remanded in a correctional facility while the case file and exhibits are forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. The matter has been adjourned to April 9, 2026.