Imo siblings beat brother to death at peace meeting over   father’s wealth

Tragedy struck in Okuku, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, on Tuesday, after some siblings allegedly beat their eldest brother, Chinonso Azuatalam, popularly known as Dakwada, to death over a disagreement on the sharing of their late father’s wealth.

Chinonso, a father of two whose wife is pregnant, was allegedly beaten to death in the presence of their maternal uncles in the compound, who came to share the inheritance.

A source in the community, who confided in our correspondent, disclosed that while the deceased, who was a welder, was fighting with his immediate younger brother, Chibuzor, their younger brothers, who are twins, hit Chinonso with a big stick on the back of his head and he lost consciousness.

Chinonso was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The source disclosed that their sister, Chioma Azuatalam, a serving police officer, also allegedly beat up the deceased’s pregnant wife.

According to the source, on getting information that their eldest brother had been pronounced dead, the brothers fled immediately.

According to the source, the sister has been allegedly arrested by the police.

The source said, “Chinonso Azuatalam was the eldest son of the family. He had three younger brothers, Chibuzor and the twin boys. They were having serious issues with the sharing formula of their late father’s wealth.

“While Chinonso was insisting that the properties be shared equally, the three other brothers, Chioma and their mother connived to share them without his consent.

“In accordance with Igbo culture, their maternal relations from Agwa in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State were invited. While their uncles presided over a meeting on Tuesday, house, tempers flared.

“The first and second sons started fighting. While the exchange of punches lasted, one of the twins hit the first son with a big stick and he lost consciousness. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“Their sister, Chioma Azuatalam, who is a police officer, also beat the deceased man’s pregnant wife. The brothers ran away on realising what had happened, but Chioma has been arrested.

“The deceased had two daughters and his wife is heavily pregnant.” Punch