𝐀 𝐁𝐎𝐘 𝐖𝐄'RE MAKING 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐎𝐍 – MOTHER OF KILLED LECTURER

Amid tears and sorrow, *Dr. (Mrs) Anolue* , mother of Slain Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, staff, recounts how her son, Chima Anolue was killed in her home by an aide whom her family was sacrificing a lot to give a better life, *FRANKLIN 𝐎NWUBIKO* writes:

ON JULY 15, 2023, the virtual space was awash with the death of Mr Chima Anolue who allegedly was brutally murdered by ‘his’ house help the previous night. Divergent stories of the murder incident rented the social media space. While most of the stories were entirely false, some were quite distorted based on hearsay reports. The family who were still drowned in the rude shock of the gruelling murder of their son could not have narrated the true account of what transpired on the night of July 14, 2023.

The 35 years old Chima, until his death was a Technologist in the Department of Psychology, Unizik, a seasoned chorister/choirmaster in the Anglican Communion, and hailed from Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government area, Anambra state.

To put the records straight, Chima’s mother, Lady Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeyinwa Anolue, Secretary, College of Postgraduate Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (Unizik) recently summoned strength amidst tears and the excruciating pain of the gruesome killing of her last son by their house help, Ifesinachi Emmanuel Omeano.

𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃

Dr. Anolue’s story:

“Ifesinachi Emmanuel Omeano came to our house here on 2nd January 2020 courtesy of his uncle, who is the father of his cousin (Miracle) who had been living with us since 2009 and currently doing his clearance having concluded his degree programme here in Unizik. Since he would soon be going for his National Youth Service Corps programme, we requested a small boy to be assisting us. My husband, Sir Tim Anolue just clocked 78 in January. 

“When Ifesi came, he told us that he was 15 years old and had finished primary six in Ebonyi state, Ezilo precisely, their village, and set for JSS 1. I requested Daddy (Sir Tim Anolue) to test him as a retired teacher to know where the school will place him. Daddy gave him a simple mathematics test which he failed. Daddy took him to the school where he was tested for Primary 6 and 5, which he failed. They now said the alternative will be primary 4 since he’s overgrown primary 3, yet he still failed primary 4. He pleaded that we change school for him which we obliged and sent him to Demonstration primary school Awka, where he schooled till primary 6.

𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

Dr Anolue continued, “Sometime in November 2021, we travelled to the village for burial. We were at home when one of our relations, Mr Ethel Umeanozie living at Igboukwu Street, called us that our ward and his accomplice were apprehended stealing rods for onward sale and that he was about to be lynched and set ablaze. Since we weren't close by, the information was relayed to Chima who was inside the University; he eventually rushed to the scene and rescued the boy after he had been thoroughly beaten by the security guards at the site.

“On coming back the same evening, Chima gave us a rundown of what had transpired. On querying why he engaged in such a crime, Ifesi confessed that they sell the rods and use the money to feed. I asked him, 'So you don’t eat in this house that you go about stealing?' Daddy punished him that day and sent for his parents. The mother, the father, and one of their daughters came to the house and pleaded extensively on his behalf. By then, I had packed his bags, I beckoned on them to go with Ifesinachi. They fell, crying and pleading. The mother used reverse psychology while asking if I would throw my child away just like that pleading that we help make the boy a better person otherwise he would go astray if left in their custody. After many pleas, we then reconsidered giving him another chance as he promised to turn a new leaf. We had no issue with him all through 2022.

“Recently in March this year, Ifesi exhibited another unruly behaviour by stealing and doing away with the earphone of one of my nephews that had come to spend time with us during the electioneering period. He repeatedly lied about stealing the accessory until much later when he confessed to selling it off. Chima said to us after that incident and coupled with what he heard when he (Ifesi) was almost lynched the previous time, and I quote, ‘Mummy, Daddy, send this boy back to his parents before he puts you into trouble’. I had to repack his bags for him, gave him transport fare, and asked him to go back to his parents before I get back from work. On returning the same evening, Daddy showed me the undertaking Ifesi wrote, to be of good behaviour, stating that we should send him home if he tries it again. As considerate parents, we obliged and continued to have him live with us.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐘

Narrating further, Dr Anolue disclosed, “We had planned to go for burial in Igboukwu on Thursday to return on Saturday. Ifesi said he had exams from Monday to Friday. When I wanted to provide him with a foolscap sheet for the exams, he said it was strictly a ‘fill in the gap’ format. I pleaded with Chinenye, a cousin to our second son’s wife, who was doing her clearance at the university to come stay in the house since we can’t leave Ifesi all alone in the house. On that Thursday morning, Chima saw us off and bade us farewell, little did we know that will be the last time we would behold our son. Then Friday night around 7, I called Chinenye to check up on them and asked her if brother Chima was back of which she said no. I told her to lock the gate and open it when Chima knocks; she quickly informed me that she had already locked it pending when he comes back.

“After the call, I equally spoke with two of my sisters who had called. One even asked when Chima is settling down of which I told her we were on it. My daughter also called afterwards. Shortly before we prayed in the house, my second son called and said there was a crisis in Awka and I immediately asked what Ifesi has done again. He asked us to start praying as the news he got from Awka was that Chima is in critical condition and has been rushed to the hospital. He said that he was told that Chima hit his head at the edge of our freezer. I started calling for a prayer chain with our prayer partners in the church and fellowship.

“I quickly called Chinenye to enquire what happened. She said when Chima came in, he enquired what they had for dinner of which she responded to having had spaghetti with Ifesi, after which he admitted clearing the sink. According to her, Chima, however, said he’d love to eat rice and will fix the food himself, hence she went upstairs. 

“Around 8 pm, Chinenye said she started hearing a sound that seemed like someone killing a rat. She rhetorically asked what Ifesi could be killing. Hence, she had to go downstairs to see for herself. At first, she called for Ifesinachi but no response only to meet Chima face down in the pool of his blood in the kitchen. She dashed to our neighbour’s flat and called on him that something had happened to Chima. So Frank and his two brothers rushed to our kitchen to meet our son in his pool of blood. Frank rushed back to get his car key. It was at that period that Ifesi surfaced and said Chima had fallen and hit his head on the freezer. The good thing was that the gates were locked, maybe he would have run away. Chinenye said the three boys managed to carry Chima to Frank’s car to rush him to the hospital.

Chinenye revealed that while in transit, Ifesi was seen holding Chima’s neck. One of the boys now scolded him, 'What are you doing Ifesinachi, do you want to strangle him?' Chima was still breathing at that time, according to Chinenye. They took him to the first hospital, and they rejected him. Then, they left for Amaku Hospital where he was accepted and treatment commenced. In the course of treatment, the doctor was puzzled at the degree of injury and summoned the occupants of the house. Ifesinachi pointed accusing fingers at Chinenye and Frank’s brothers; the Amaku security men quickly made to handcuff them. At this point, Frank came in and interjected, stating that it was Chinenye that came and called him and his brothers over to their house.

“The doctor went back in with the security personnel and came up with a psychological ploy. The doctor demanded to know who Ifesi was, stating that Chima mentioned the name as the culprit. It was at that point that Ifesi owned up to his crime and started confessing. By then, Venerable Ekene had arrived at the hospital. He was later whisked to the police station.

“We didn’t sleep that night as we started packing.  At 6 am, we set for Awka. On arrival, Daddy suggested we get to the house first. Getting to our gate, we met a lot of people who had initially wanted to deny us entrance to our house but Daddy ordered them to allow us in. I knew it was all over when I saw Chinenye in the house because we told her not to leave the hospital till we get there. I quickly dashed upstairs to ease myself, after which I managed to enter my kitchen. I stepped out and told Daddy that Chima is no more. He asked why I said so, 'I told him our son is no more going by what I saw in the kitchen, that Chima will not survive it'. 

“We immediately left for Amaku. Come and see people, UNIZIK staff, Church of Pentecost members, the Igboukwu community, friends and all the doctors we know. Immediately we entered the premises, they took us to run a BP check and gave us some drugs. They poured water on me seeing that I was gradually passing out. I pleaded for them to take me to see my son as his siblings had requested a video of their brother. The doctors held me and my husband very well and took us to where a son I left here in good health lay in his pool of blood. My husband and I prayed for him. We said, ‘Chima, this was not what we planned but since it happened and we stood in the gap for you, may God’s will prevail. My happiness is that you served your God with your talent, money, and time, that is my consolation but we will see on the resurrection day. After praying for him, we pleaded with the mortician to take good care of his body. 

“Before we got home, everywhere was swarming with people, cars, etc. I didn’t even know that my small boy was this popular. Ever since we’ve been perching here (referring to a particular shade in the compound), we can’t sleep again because my house is now like ice water. Chima would come home, singing from his room downstairs to upstairs to greet us. Chima will gist us the activities of the day from the University to the church and back home. My pain was that Chima did not even eat the rice he set out to prepare as I saw the ofeakwu that was brought out. Chima died hungry after the whole hustle and bustle in school. It is just disheartening that the boy we brought here to better his life killed my son.

“The following day, we were asked to come to the police station for a statement. Getting there, I requested to see Ifesi to know why he killed my son in such a gruesome manner. 

Immediately he saw me, he said, ‘Mummy, I don’t know what came over me’. I replied, ‘Ifesi wait, if you tell me the truth, I will forgive you, but if you lie, I will leave you to God’. He continued, ‘Mummy, what happened was that when Chima came home, he told me to boil rice for him. I quickly retorted, ‘That is a lie! Chima cannot tell you to boil rice. Have you ever cooked for Chima since you came to our house?’ He said, ‘No mummy’. ‘The only thing connecting Chima and you which is just on rare occasions when Chima sends you to buy Coke across the street. How can Chima tell you to cook when Chinenye was in the house?’ 

“Continuing, he said brother Chima asked why he hadn’t washed the plate on the sink which apparently he (Ifesi) ate with, and he didn’t say a word. Chima asked further, and yet, he didn’t answer the question, so he slapped him. He told Brother Chima that they don’t slap him because he has an injury. I inquired to know what happened afterwards. He said they started fighting. I told him that it was a lie, ‘You can’t fight Chima, and you can’t even challenge him or lift a finger’. He then said he hit Brother Chima with the pestle when he was about to leave the kitchen, and still hit him again afterwards. I broke out in tears again as I left the station.

“I want to make it clear that Chima has never touched this boy, you can ask Miracle at my back. We gave all my children a standing instruction not to touch anybody living with us. I told Ifesi, ‘If Chima had slapped you, why not you endure and tell us when we return and you see us dig it with him’. The last time Chima sent him to buy something across the street around 6 pm, I emphatically told Chima not to send him out once it was 5:30 pm. If you see how we were pampering this boy, training him godly and academically just like his cousin, now look at how we were paid back. Our solace is that our son died in the Lord but my pains are that our son suffered before he died, he died without eating”.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒂 𝒘as  𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 on  𝑻𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 22𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒖𝒈𝒖𝒔𝒕, 2023 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝑼𝒎𝒖𝒆𝒛𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒊, 𝑵𝒈𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝑰𝒈𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒌𝒘𝒖, 𝑨𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝑳𝑮𝑨, 𝑨𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆.