A 47-year-old man has allegedly killed his first cousin during a family meeting in Delta State following a heated argument over the refund of a ₦1,000 burial contribution.
The tragic incident occurred on December 12, 2025, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state and was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright, in a video shared on X on Monday.
According to the police, members of the family had gathered after returning from the burial of a relative when a disagreement erupted over the refund of a ₦1,000 contribution made for the burial rites.
“This young man was dragging and bringing all down fire and brimstone that they must give him back his 1,000,” Edafe said.
He added, “In the process of dragging, he started fighting. Somewhere along the line, according to him, while he was 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.
“Now, N1,000 argument has led to the death of a family member. He was being cautioned even by this very guy who eventually passed.
“The spirit that possessed him, according to him, would not allow him to listen to the voice of wisdom. The man who died is 42 years. Somebody has died just because of N1,000.”
The suspect, identified simply as Ezekiel, reportedly expressed remorse over the incident, claiming the death was accidental.
He admitted that several relatives, including the deceased, had tried to pacify him during the argument. “It was by mistake. I didn’t know when I hit him,” he said.
Ezekiel further explained that the money in question was a contribution traditionally refunded to contributors after burial ceremonies. “After everything, they always shared it. That’s how we return the money to the owner,” he stated.
Reacting to the incident, Edafe advised members of the public to exercise restraint and avoid violence, even in the face of minor disagreements.
“Mine is to talk to our listeners to understand the importance of controlling your temper. You have to calm down. Any form of fighting could lead to death. It can turn into manslaughter. It could turn to murder. Please, a word they say is enough for the wise. Prevention is better than cure,” he concluded.