Man, step son arrested in Bayelsa over secret burial of wife

A 53 year old man, Seimukumo Agnaju and his step son, Larry Godsgift, aged 16 have been arrested by the Anti Vice Squad of the Nigerian Police over alleged mysterious death and secret burial of his wife at the Akenpai suburb of Yenagoa Bayelsa State.

The deceased woman, identified as Joyce Sawyer, aged 43, an indigene of Odi community in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of the state, was said to have died on the 13th of March in her home after a long battle with strange ailment. 

However, the death of the woman was kept secret by her son, Godsgift Larry and her husband, Seikumeikumo Aganju, who buried her remains behind their home without the knowledge of her family members. 

It was learned that attempts by the deceased’s son to convince his step father to inform one of his uncles was rebuffed by the step father, who accused his In laws of not showing concern while the deceased was ill. 

Sources said though the police investigation team are waiting for the outcome of the autopsy test carried out on the corpse, the suspects have not been charged with any offences. 

Close family sources said though the relationship between the detained husband and her In-laws have been frosty, the decision to bury their daughter against tradition is criminal and suspicious. It was gathered that the deeds would have gone unnoticed if not for the Bank Verification Number (BVN) required by the erification team of the state government for all state workers. 

The death and secret burial of the deceased, a staff of the Local Government, was discovered when a colleague tried to alert her on the need for her to leave the sick bed and come forward to submit her BVN. 

While many claimed the secret burial was conducted due to lack of mortuary fee, others alleged that the suspect strained relationship with his wife family members may have made him to keep the demise of their daughter away from them. 

Contacted on the development, the spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development and said investigation was ongoing.