Houseboy Kills Nigerian Lecturer Over Burnt Rice Argument

For reportedly getting into an argument with his domestic staff, a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Chima Anolue, is no longer alive to tell the story of what actually transpired on that fateful day.

Quite sadly, it is a question of getting more than he bargained for because what began as a simple scolding of his employee for wrongdoing ended tragically with Anolue being sent to an early grave on Friday night.

Reports indicate that the deceased, a lecturer with the Psychology Department, Faculty of Social Sciences of the University, was upset that the young employee had abandoned the rice he was cooking to get burnt, and did not show any remorse thereafter.

Unknown to Anolue that the incident would lead to his untimely death, the domestic staff engaged him in a fisticuff after being reportedly slapped by the ‘Oga’ for the disrespectful attitude and answers to inquiries made concerning the burnt rice.

his employee, Anolue was said to have slapped the domestic worker, who in turn engaged him in a fight.

The suspect, who initially denied killing his master, confessed to the hineous crime after he was drilled by members of the local vigilante guards.

Making confession in a video that has now gone viral, the suspect stated thus; “When he (my master) came back, he told me to cook rice. And as I was cooking the rice, he asked me why I did not wash plates. I did not reply. He then asked why I wasn’t responding to his question.

“In the process, he slapped me. But I told him I usually have ear problems, and that people don’t slap me. As I was saying that, he angrily asked if I was still talking while he was talking. And therefore, he slapped me again and brought out cane and started flogging me all over.

“Then in the process, I got angry, and we started fighting. It was also in the process of that fight that I picked up the pestle in the kitchen and hit him on the head.”

A scene in the video showed the suspect at a hospital where Anolue was rushed to after the attack. With hands tied behind his back, he stood in front of the lifeless body of his late employer captured lying on the hospital bed.

The deceased’s head was seen wrapped with bandage, indicating that the injury may have seen him bleeding heavily while fighting for his dear life.

The local vigilantes later took the Suspect away from the hospital environment and deadly threats could be heard at the background. With another scene showing a man pointing a riffle towards the suspect and threatening to pull the trigger, he was heard pleading and crying for mercy saying; “Daddy, please, don’t kill me.”

At the time of filing this report, enquiry from the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Tochukwu Ikenga, indicated that the incident had not been officially reported to the police.

However, he promised to make available to the media official information at the right time with assurances that the viral video would be investigated.

Meanwhile, friends, relatives and sympathisers are already sending in tributes in honour of the deceased lecturer and condoling with the family over his tragic death.

Writing in his Facebook post, one Arinze Uzoagu, said; “Chima was my brother. A wonderful chorister and a fine Choir Leader. He comes from one of the finest family in Igboukwu, his parents have loved me like their son right from my days as an undergraduate.

Chima my brother went viral yesterday not because of all the fine virtues bestowed upon him by God… But because he was gruesomely murdered by their house help just because my brother scolded him for letting the food on fire get burnt.

“Not once, not twice but three times this animal hit Chima with a pestle on his skull.….Chima wasn’t kidnapped, he didn’t have a road accident neither did he die in his sleep. His beautiful young and promising life was cut short right inside his home by a person they housed, clothed, fed and paid. I don’t know how I feel or have felt since yesterday.”

Sounded more like an insider, Iyke Ezoms wrote; “I am pained, Chima has been asking the Mum to send the idiot back to their house that he does not like his behaviour. How will amiable Dr Ify Anolue and Husband survive this painful loss. I have been in pain since yesterday. Really sad Arinze Uzoagu.”

A sympathiser, one Rosemary Eneh wrote thus: “What! What type of a story is this? Your own house help kwa! My goodness! This is so sad. May his soul rest in peace.”

In the words of Prince Tony Ezeimo: “No blame should go to the dead… However, I advise those living never on any circumstance to house an Abakiliki person in your house. That is suicidal!!!”

Viola Ifeyinwa Okolie: “I read that story and was shocked. How the houseboy assaulted him with a knife after he lay unconscious from the pestle battering, then attempted to strangle him in the car because he noticed he was still breathing. I don’t even know what to think, this is sickening.”

For Chichi Tochukwu, “This is so sad, no one deserves to die this way. May God comfort his family and may his soul rest in peace 🙏”

On his part, Okonkwo Eliyah Ogomeghunam wrote; “A very cool and calm guy.what a very sad loss.may his soul rest in peace.” – With Daily Trust report