Father Arrested for Tragic Death of Son in Benin, Police Cite Drug Abuse as Cause

Our reporter

A tragic incident in Edo State has left a community in shock after a father, 35-year-old Theophilus Osazuwa, was arrested for the alleged murder of his 4-year-old son, Testimony Osazuwa. 

According to the Edo State Police Command, the incident occurred at the family's residence in Ogbeson Quarters, off the Benin-Agbor Road. Witnesses reported that Osazuwa, upon returning home just a day before Christmas, began screaming incoherently, shouting phrases like “Holy Ghost fire,” before violently throwing his son against a wall. 

Efforts to save the boy were unsuccessful, as he was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that Osazuwa, who is reportedly a habitual user of illicit substances, was under the influence at the time of the crime. Authorities believe his actions were spurred by the effects of drug abuse, further underscoring the risks posed by substance consumption. 

Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Umoru Ozigi, through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu, issued a strong statement urging the public, particularly youths, to avoid illicit drugs. “Substance abuse not only endangers the user but also poses a grave risk to innocent people around them,” the statement read. 

The police have assured the public of a thorough investigation and promised to ensure justice for the tragic death of Testimony Osazuwa. The case has reignited calls for greater awareness and action against the rising menace of drug abuse in the region. 

Meanwhile, local residents remain heartbroken over the incident, describing the young boy as a cheerful child whose life was cut short in a most harrowing manner.