For the Ifoghale family of Olomoro, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, February 28, 2020, remains an unforgettable nightmare, a day of anguish that plunged them into indescribable sorrow. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion turned into a harrowing tragedy, leaving an entire neighbourhood in shock and despair. The tranquility of No. 5, Ufuoma Street, Uneunrhie Town, Warri 332104, Delta State, Nigeria, was shattered by an event so horrifying that it left a lasting scar on the hearts of those who witnessed it.
The day had begun with high hopes and anticipation. Mr. Godwin Ifoghale and his wife, Mrs. Vivian Ifoghale, had made elaborate preparations to celebrate the 23rd birthday of their beloved son, Blessing Onome Ifoghale. Born on February 28, 1997, in Lagos State, Blessing was a young man full of promise, cherished by his family and respected by his community. The Ifoghales had spent the previous evening tirelessly setting up for the grand celebration, decorating their home, arranging refreshments, and finalizing the entertainment. They went to bed exhausted but excited for the day ahead, unaware that their world was about to come crashing down.
In the dead of night, at precisely 2:00am, a nightmare unfolded. The peaceful household was violently disrupted by the sudden invasion of two masked gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles. The assailants forcefully broke into the modest three-room apartment, their footsteps heavy with intent. Barking out commands, they ordered everyone into the living room and demanded they lie face down on the cold floor. Fear gripped the Ifoghales as they realized they were at the mercy of ruthless intruders.
In a desperate attempt to save their lives, Mr. and Mrs. Ifoghale offered the gunmen all the valuables in their possession—gold jewelry, cash, and foreign currencies—hoping this would pacify them. However, the intruders were not there for material gain. They coldly rejected the offerings, making their true intent chillingly clear.
“We are not thieves,” one of them declared. “We have come to execute divine justice. You have turned your backs on Islam. You have insulted our faith. Now, you will pay,” one of them was quoted to have said.
The words hit like a death sentence. The masked men accused Mr. Ifoghale of betraying Islam by converting to Christianity and actively spreading the gospel. His evangelical efforts, they claimed, had made him an enemy of the faith, a thorn in their flesh that needed to be removed. Their mission was not only to eliminate him and his wife but also to ensure that anyone associated with them would suffer the same fate.
Without hesitation, they carried out their grim task. In cold blood, they slaughtered Mr. Godwin Ifoghale and his wife, Vivian Ifoghale, in front of their son. Their screams of agony were muffled only by the eerie silence that followed. The household’s female domestic help, a young girl who had been with them for years, was not spared. Her lifeless body joined those of her employers on the blood-stained floor.
However, amidst the chaos, a miracle occurred. Blessing Onome Ifoghale, the very person whose birthday had brought the family together that day, managed to escape. In what could only be described as divine intervention, he bolted through an open back door and vanished into the darkness before the gunmen could react. He reappeared two days later, visibly shaken but determined. He claimed he could identify one of the attackers.
His revelation, however, only put him in greater danger. The fundamentalists, learning that Blessing had survived and could expose them, declared a relentless hunt for him. The warning was clear: he would be silenced at all costs.
With no assurance of protection from the Nigerian security forces, Blessing fled to an unknown destination. As of the time of this report, no one knew his whereabouts. His relatives and well-wishers feared for his life, knowing that his pursuers would not rest until they found him.
When our reporter visited No. 5, Ufuoma Street, Uneunrhie Town, four months after the gruesome killings, the once lively home had become a ghost house. The compound was eerily silent, the air heavy with an unspoken grief. Windows remained shut, curtains drawn as though shielding the past from prying eyes. The neighbours, still reeling from the horror of that fateful night, spoke in hushed tones, reluctant to draw attention to themselves. Fear still gripped the community, as whispers of the fundamentalists’ ongoing search for Blessing circulated like ghostly echoes in the wind.
The tragic fate of the Ifoghale family remains a chilling reminder of the dangers of religious extremism. Their story, now an open wound in the heart of their town, continues to resonate, a dark tale of faith, betrayal, and survival in a world where intolerance breeds violence. Yet, amidst the despair, one question lingers: Will Blessing Onome Ifoghale ever be found? And if he is, will he be safe? The answers remain uncertain, buried beneath the shadows of fear and the unrelenting pursuit of vengeance.
