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A farmer, Peter Ajine, speaks with AYOOLA OLASUPO on the death of his 24-year-old wife and mother of one, Gloria, who was brutally murdered by unknown persons while working on her farm
What do you do for a living?
I am from Benue State, but I farm in Ilewo Orile, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Which state is your wife from?
My wife, Gloria Ajine, is also from Benue.
How did you receive the news of your wife’s death?
On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, I was at the bank to attend to something regarding my account. When I returned home, I didn’t find her. I spoke with people in our community, and we began searching for her. Later, they found her body on the farm.
Did you find her body the same day she was killed?
Yes, we found her on the same day the incident happened. When I informed the community members that I didn’t know her whereabouts, a search began immediately. Her body was later found on the farm.
When was the last time you spoke to her?
The last time we spoke was when I was at the bank sorting out an issue with my Bank Verification Number. I stayed at the bank for a long time, then went to a cooperative meeting and returned home around a few minutes to 7 pm. We started looking for her when I got home and couldn’t find her.
Earlier that morning, I had called her because I had forgotten my phone and asked her to deliver it to a Hausa man, but she said she was at the farm. I asked her to leave the farm and meet me at Ita-Oshin, but she didn’t. When I called her phone again, I couldn’t reach her. Later that day, when we called her phone, a man picked up, but he didn’t speak to us, so we didn’t know if he was Yoruba or from another tribe. Her phone, a Tecno POP 5, was taken away, and we didn’t find it where she was killed.
Did you report the incident to the police station?
At first, we didn’t report it to the police because I knew she had gone to the farm. When we couldn’t find her, some people in the community went straight to the farm where her body was discovered. It was only after her body was found that we reported the matter to the police, and they took her remains to the hospital.
How did you feel when you saw her body?
I felt so bad that I was not in the right state of mind to go to the police station. Even now, I haven’t been able to go. When I arrived in the village, the village head accompanied me to the police station.
How many children did she leave behind?
We have only one son because my wife was still very young when she was killed.
How old was she?
I am 32 years old, and she was 24.
How old is your son?
He is four years old now and is still living with me. I decided to let him stay with me because I felt if I didn’t see him, I wouldn’t have peace of mind. Although the family suggested taking him, I disagreed because no one else can care for a child the way his parents would.
How would you describe your late wife?
She was a free-spirited person who never fought or held grudges against anyone. We never had any arguments since the day we got married, and I never heard of her having any disputes with others.
When did you marry her?
We got married five years ago.
Was she involved in any conflicts before the incident?
No, there were no conflicts. She was never involved in any misunderstandings with anyone. She never told me anything like that, and I never heard anything in the community.
Did you observe any unusual behaviour from her before she was killed?
No, there was no unusual behaviour. We never fought since the day I married her. Of course, couples may have some petty issues in their marriage, but aside from that, we never fought.
What were her ambitions in life?
Since we got married, we worked together as partners on the farm. She started doing alajapa (small-scale trade) this year and never mentioned if she had any other plans in mind.
What will you always remember her for?
She was not a bad person, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel the pain of her death.
Are the police investigating the cause of her death?
She was killed in a very brutal manner. All her clothes were torn, her throat was slit, and there were several machete cuts all over her body. The police are working on the case, but they told us we delayed the investigation. They mentioned that we needed to raise money for them to get fuel for their operations. So, money seems to be the cause of the delay.
How much did the police ask for?
The police only told us to contact them whenever we returned from our village in Benue State after the burial. We just returned on Sunday.
How has this tragedy affected the family?
We all know that a woman holds the home while the husband has his role to play. The gap left by her absence is deeply felt.
Are you optimistic that investigations will reveal the suspects behind your wife’s murder?
I have a lot of faith in the police, but I suspect that the Fulani herdsmen killed my wife on the farm. This is not the first time something like this has happened in the area.
Several years ago, two siblings were killed in the same area in a similar manner. It’s the herdsmen who slit throats like that. I’m deeply saddened by the way she was killed.
How are the family members supporting you at this moment?
We are from the same community, and our houses are not far from each other. Before she left home that day, her mother was around, and she informed her when she was setting out to the farm. I met her family in that community, and it’s where I married her.
What is your message to the police on this matter?
I wrote a statement at the police station on Tuesday, naming who I suspect, and they came over to follow up on it. They assured me that if the suspects were involved in the murder, their secret would be exposed.
We are still planning a meeting with my extended family to decide the next steps.
I suspect the herdsmen because I had an altercation with one of them when their cattle strayed into my farm and destroyed some crops.
I confronted one of the herdsmen after that incident. That is why I suspect him, especially since the incident occurred in the same month my wife was killed.
