Family discovers decomposing body of retired Benue judge

Gunmen have reportedly killed a retired President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Makurdi, Benue State, Justice Margaret Igbetar.

Her remains were discovered on Thursday by her son at her residence on 1, Wantor Kwange Street, opposite the School of Medicine, Benue State University, Gboko Road.

A source close to the family said by the time the corpse was found, it had started decomposing.

The source added that a case of murder was reported to the “E” Division Police Station, Makurdi.

“Her corpse seems to be decomposing at the time it was found, suggesting she must have been killed before yesterday (Thursday),” the source said.

The Divisional Police Officer, Daniel Ezeala, could not be immediately reached for comments but a police source confirmed the incident.

The source said, “Yes, it’s true. Yesterday, Thursday, August 24, 2023, her lifeless body was discovered in her house but the corpse was not looking too okay; meaning that it (death) couldn’t have happened yesterday (Thursday), maybe it happened the day before yesterday.

“The son is giving useful information that may lead to the arrest of suspects in connection with the incident.”

The police source told our correspondent that efforts were on to unravel the cause of the death.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, said she was in transit back to the state and asked for time to get the details of the incident.

She had yet to get back to our correspondent as of press time.

Late Igbetar was born October 17, 1950, in Mbape, Shangev-ya, Tsar-Mbaduku, in the Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.

She was married and had seven children; two sons and five daughters.

The deceased was a founding member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Benue State.