Abuja, NIGERIA — A tragic case of domestic violence has rocked Benin City, Edo State, after a man allegedly stabbed his wife to death just eight months after their marriage. The husband, Kelvin Izekor, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for the brutal murder of his 38-year-old wife, Success Izekor.
The gruesome incident occurred on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at their home in the Upper Mission Extension area of Benin City. Eyewitnesses and residents have expressed shock at the murder, with many revealing that the couple had been newlyweds, and such an act of violence was unimaginable for the victim.
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the shocking scene, saying: “I can’t believe what I saw. Imagine being killed by your own husband. They were newlyweds, and nobody would have expected the woman to suffer such a fate.”
The extent of the violence was highlighted in a disturbing video circulating on social media, which shows police officers and bystanders lifting the lifeless body of Success, who had suffered severe machete injuries to her head. The chilling footage also shows her being placed into a police vehicle for transport to the morgue.
According to the police, the events leading up to the murder were chaotic. The Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Sunday, February 23, 2025. Yamu detailed how officers responded to reports of the crime late at night, after receiving information that Kelvin Izekor had murdered his wife and was on the verge of being lynched by an angry mob.
The statement read: “On 22/02/2025, at about 22:00hrs, information was received that one Kelvin Izekor of No. 50 Upper Mission Extension, Benin City, had killed his wife, Success Izekor, aged 38, and was about to be lynched by an irate mob.”
Police operatives from the Aduwawa Division were quick to respond, arriving at the scene where they found the victim’s body lying in a pool of blood, with severe machete wounds on her head. It took substantial intervention from the authorities to pacify the crowd and prevent further violence, as they managed to rescue the suspect and take him into custody for questioning.
The police confirmed that the woman was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. While the precise motive behind the killing remains unclear, the case has drawn attention to the rising cases of domestic violence in the region.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, condemned the brutal act and expressed her concerns about the increasing frequency of domestic violence incidents in the state. “We assure the public that a thorough investigation will be carried out, and justice will be served. Anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” she said.
Family members of the victim have been left in shock. Success Izekor’s elder sister revealed that the victim was four months pregnant at the time of her death. The tragic circumstances surrounding her murder began when the family was contacted by the husband’s mother, who expressed concern that they had not seen Success for some time. However, the tragic reality was that Success had already been killed and her body locked inside their apartment. It was only when Kelvin attempted to dispose of the body that a neighbour spotted him and raised the alarm.
This case has left the community shaken, with many questioning the prevalence of domestic violence in the region. As investigations continue, the tragic loss of Success Izekor serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic abuse.