Retired headmistress, 65, shot dead by teenage cultist in Benin

A 65-year-old retired headmistress, Mrs. Clara Uwaifo, has been reportedly shot dead by a suspected teenage cultist in Benin City, capital of Edo state.

Mrs. Uwaifo who retired from Uwelu Primary School, Benin, last August‎, was allegedly gunned down on Wednesday, March 15, at the gate of her residence at 27, Oviawe Street, Off Upper Siluko Road, Ogida Quarters, at about 3:00 pm.

The deceased, a widow, was said to have met her sudden death while returning from the hospital where she had gone to see her 

daughter who had just delivered a baby.

When journalists visited the scene of the incident on Friday, sympathizers who besieged the compound were placing curses on the killer of the woman.

One of the granddaughters of the deceased (name withheld), who allegedly witnessed the gruesome murder of the victim, told journalists that she was returning from school when she sighted her grandmother also approaching the gate with the suspect following her closely.

She further stated that as she doubled up her steps to meet up with her grandmother in order to assist her with one of the bags she was carrying when the teenager pulled out a gun from the pocket of his trousers and shot at the woman from behind.

She however said she identified the suspect as the son of their neighbour whose family has been at loggerheads with the Uwaifos.

She also alleged that members of the suspect’s family have severally threatened to kill the woman and that the threat was reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Benin City, last year.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Osifo, who confirmed the murder of the retired headmistress, identified the suspect as “one Happy Agbangbanyan, a teenage cultist and serial killer on police wanted list.”

He added that the police are already on his trail.