Tragedy struck in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Monday, March 10, 2025, when a pastor, Victor Okoh, allegedly murdered his wife, Victoria Okoh, in their home on Effiong Essang Street. The shocking incident has left the community reeling with grief and disbelief.
According to reports from PUNCH Newspaper, the 42-year-old clergyman, who serves with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), attacked his 38-year-old wife with a machete in the early hours of the morning, around 5:20 a.m. Witnesses reported hearing a heated argument before the tragic escalation.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that Pastor Okoh had asked his wife to leave for her parents’ house the previous night but later called her back inside. What transpired afterward remains unclear, but by morning, the situation had turned deadly.
It was further revealed that the suspect allegedly locked the main door and secured the external protector, preventing neighbors from intervening despite the victim’s desperate cries for help. Disturbed by the commotion, residents gathered outside but were unable to gain access to the house.
Concerned neighbors alerted the police, who arrived promptly and forced entry into the home. Inside, they discovered the mutilated body of Victoria Okoh lying outside the house. Authorities recovered the suspected murder weapon, a machete, at the scene.
In an attempt to evade arrest, the suspect reportedly hid in the ceiling but was eventually apprehended by law enforcement officers. The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, confirmed his arrest and stated that investigations are ongoing. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the General Hospital morgue for autopsy and further examination.
Reacting to the tragic event, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Azare, condemned the gruesome act and assured the public that justice would be served. He urged residents to seek peaceful and lawful ways to resolve disputes instead of resorting to violence.
