Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Tragedy has struck the Ijoka community in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, where a Fulani woman identified as Khadijat has been arrested for the alleged fatal stabbing of her co-wife, Ramatu. The gruesome incident, which occurred on Thursday, August 13, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the quiet agrarian settlement, leaving a family shattered and a community grappling with the horror of domestic violence escalating to murder. According to accounts from the grieving husband, Jibrin, the fatal confrontation unfolded while members of the family were engaged in the routine task of harvesting palm kernels in a nearby bush, a chore that should have been mundane but instead became the backdrop for a brutal killing.
The sequence of events, as pieced together from family accounts and confirmed by a presenter with Ankpa Radio-Television on Sunday, August 23, 2026, paints a chilling picture of a family torn apart by unresolved conflict. Jibrin recounted that he received a distress call around 4 p.m. concerning an alarming incident involving his two wives. It was reported that Ramatu had raised a desperate alarm, crying for help as the attack was taking place. Her screams pierced the stillness of the bush, drawing the attention of other family members who were harvesting palm kernels in a different section of the area. However, as they attempted to rush to Ramatu's aid, they were allegedly stopped by Khadijat, who warned them not to enter the area, claiming it was unsafe. This warning, which now appears to have been a calculated move to prevent intervention, allowed the alleged attack to continue unchecked.
By the time the family members were able to reach the location, the damage was done. Ramatu was discovered with multiple stab wounds and had already succumbed to her injuries. Khadijat had fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of blood and a family in shock. Jibrin later revealed that the two women had a disagreement several weeks before the fatal incident. However, the family did not anticipate that the earlier dispute could escalate into such a violent and deadly confrontation. He alleged that Khadijat may have continued to harbour resentment over the disagreement, which ultimately exploded into the horrific attack.
In the aftermath of the discovery, members of the Ijoka community took the deceased to the traditional leader, who subsequently alerted the relevant security authorities. The incident, as expected, caused significant tension within the community as residents sought clarification on what had transpired. Jibrin, in an effort to prevent further escalation, was quick to clarify that the killing was allegedly the result of an internal family dispute and not an attack by members of the host Igala community. He informed members of the Fulani community in neighbouring parts of Benue and Nasarawa states about the incident, appealing to them to assist in locating Khadijat if she was found within their areas. He also stressed that the host community should not be blamed for the killing.
The arrest of Khadijat marks a critical step in the pursuit of justice for Ramatu. The police are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stabbing. The case has once again highlighted the complex dynamics of polygamous households and the potential for simmering resentments to boil over into violence. As the community of Ijoka mourns the loss of Ramatu, the focus now shifts to the legal proceedings that will determine Khadijat's fate. The incident stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace within families and the devastating consequences when conflicts are left unresolved. The people of Olamaboro LGA and the wider Kogi State now await the outcome of the police investigation, hoping that justice will be served for the life that was so brutally taken.
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