A family meeting in Delta State ended in tragedy after a 47-year-old man allegedly killed his first cousin during a dispute over the refund of a ₦1,000 contribution.
The incident occurred on December 12, 2025, in Ughelli South Local Government Area and was confirmed on Monday by the spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright, in a video shared on X.
According to Edafe, members of the family had gathered after returning from the burial of a relative when an argument broke out over the refund of ₦1,000 contributed for the burial rites. He said the disagreement escalated into a physical fight.
“In the process of dragging, he started fighting. Somewhere along the line, according to him, while trying to wriggle his way out of the fight, he used his hand to hit one of the brothers, a relative of his, who eventually died,” Edafe said.
The police spokesperson disclosed that the deceased, aged 42, had reportedly attempted to calm the suspect during the altercation before he was fatally struck.
The suspect, identified as Ezekiel, expressed remorse and claimed the incident was accidental. He said the ₦1,000 was part of a burial contribution traditionally refunded to contributors after the ceremony. “It was by mistake. I didn’t know when I hit him,” he said.
READ ALSO: Police Inspector Fatally Shot During Stop-and-Search in Anambra
Edafe described the incident as a needless loss of life and urged members of the public to exercise restraint and control their tempers, even in the face of minor provocations.
“Any form of fighting could lead to death. It can turn into manslaughter or murder. Prevention is better than cure,” he said.
The suspect is currently in police custody while investigations continue.
The incident adds to a growing number of cases in which minor disputes have escalated into fatal violence across the country.