A widow, Mrs. Anthonia Ighorohwo, and her two daughters have called on President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Sen. Oluremi, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to come to her aid and help her get justice for her son.
The widow, whose 19 year old son, John Kolawole, was recently kidnapped and killed by gunmen at their home in Otokutu Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, has fled the area.
The deceased was kidnapped and killed on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 while his lifeless body was found on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at ECN along Ughelli Expressway, Delta State.
She added that security agents involved had also released the suspects arrested in connection with the alleged murder of her son while his properties are currently being converted to personal use by them.
Ighorohwo confirmed the abduction and murder of her son in a statement, saying he was kidnapped and killed by “people yet to be identified” while his remains were buried at the cemetery in Agbor Community, Delta State.
She said she had to run away from her home after she was threatened by some persons, who pretended to help her get justice, that her life and that of her children were not safe.
She alleged they were threatening her over who gave the order for the deceased son to be buried in an unknown land, especially when he left so many properties where he could be laid to rest.
Narrating how the incident happened, Mrs. Ighorohwo said , “An eye witness in the area narrated that he was kidnapped by some gunmen and the driver of the vehicle who happens to be his friend was shot dead instantly and Kolawole was kidnapped to an unknown destination on the same day.
“Immediately, l called Tega Shalokpe, a human rights activist, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, to help me reach out to the police to report the incident, for the police to carry out investigations and bring the killers to justice. I was not disposed to report to the police immediately because I was in shock over the sad news of the death of my son.
“During the investigation, the CP instructed that an autopsy should be done on the deceased to know the actual cause of his death .
“While the investigation was going on they got information from his girlfriend and a friend that he has an iPhone XR phone that his iCloud is linked to all his phones, with that I believed we would have been able to get some basic information needed for the investigation.
“So some team of police from Asaba, accompanied by some other police in Warri, went to late Kolawole’s house to get the iPhone XR phone, they also packed along with them, iPhone 14 pro max, iPhone XR, iPad (tab), two Laptops, Nokia small phone, spoilt Samsung phone.
“Others packed are iPhone wristwatch, car spare keys, Mercedes Benz G.L.A, black colour, one Army short, instrument receipt, House documents and land documents, four House plans (Files), file for two cars, Derick school credentials, instruments were recovered from the family.
“They refused to return the remaining properties back to his biological parents. During investigations they invited the car dealer over to Asaba and the money Kolawole deposited for my car was retrieved and transferred into the lawyer’s account.”
Mrs. Ighorohwo, who is interested in knowing who kidnapped and killed her 19 year old son, Kolawole lamented, “The pain is too much for me to bear. They are withdrawing money from my son’s account as we speak. Hence, we have been calling and texting them for feedback countless times, all to no avail.
“They have converted his properties to their own. They said the matter is in court but I don’t know who gave them the consent to go to court while they’re withdrawing his money.
“Everyone involved in this matter should be rearrested, investigated and prosecuted and his properties released to me and his siblings.”
She equally called on other relevant security agencies including the Department of State Security (DSS), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the media to assist.
Last modified: December 19, 2023
