A retired nurse, Mrs. Esther Amali, and her housemaid, Mercy Mwuese, were stabbed to death by an intruder at their home in Federal Low Cost, Makurdi, Benue State.

The incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Sunday, January 14, 2024. According to an eyewitness, the attacker entered the compound and assaulted the housemaid, who was in her 20s, while the retired nurse was away.

Two versions of the motive emerged—one suggesting a dispute over the housemaid’s pregnancy involving rival cultists and another alleging a disagreement about the paternity of the housemaid’s baby.

The attacker, who had warned the housemaid to stop associating his friend with her baby’s father, scaled a fence to enter the house.

Upon the nurse’s return, she found the housemaid being stabbed and pleaded for the attack to stop, but the assailant continued, leaving both victims unconscious.

Despite efforts to reach the hospital, the nurse passed away during transit. Their remains are at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, and a neighbor has taken custody of the housemaid’s baby.