A shocking killing has left the Delta State community reeling after a Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) student allegedly stabbed his younger brother to death over bathroom slippers. The incident happened in the Ugbomoro area where both men lived off campus.
Fejiro Obiere, 21, and his 19-year-old brother Joseph were first-year students at the institution when the tragedy struck. Police say the two shared a room and got into a heated argument about a pair of bathroom slippers.
Neighbours broke up their initial fight, but the brothers resumed their confrontation moments later behind their house. Fejiro allegedly pulled out a kitchen knife and stabbed Joseph multiple times before fleeing the scene.
"Fejiro has been at large," Delta State Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent of Police (SP) Bright Edafe told reporters. The officer said Fejiro used the kitchen knife to stab his younger brother repeatedly during the second round of fighting.
Residents of Ugbomoro have struggled to comprehend how a 21-year-old could kill his teenage sibling over such a trivial matter. Madam Agnes, a community member, voiced her bewilderment about the killing.
"I have not stopped asking myself why the young man did what he did. Could it be parental failure?" she said.
Community members have called on police to find the alleged killer and bring him to justice.
SP Edafe speculated that cultism or substance abuse might have triggered Fejiro's violent response. He described the situation as "very pathetic," noting that the case would become a family tragedy regardless of the outcome.
When arrested, Fejiro will face a murder charge, the police spokesman confirmed. Madam Felicia, another Ugbomoro resident, expressed concern about the impact on the family if he's found guilty.
"If the boy is charged with murder, it would be a double tragedy for the parents if he is found guilty," she told reporters. Since last month's incident, community voices have grown louder, demanding police action against the alleged killer.
"Police should bring him out to answer for his actions," residents have said. The case has sparked conversations about what drives young people to extreme violence over minor disputes.
