~ Says I’m ready for consequences
Hearing or reading about the horrific incident in which a 21-year-old apprentice gruesomely killed his master with a pestle, one might be tempted to blame the boss for the calamity that befell him at his No. 2 Enyiuko Street, Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra State residence,
According to the Igbo traditional apprenticeship system otherwise known as Igba boi, any young male mentored by an established master in learning a trade, craft, discipline or financial skills for a minimum of five and maximum of seven years, would be formally settled with capital or goods to start his own business.
This arrangement is usually backed with a kind of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties, any breach of which attracts consequences. Regrettably, instances abound where business owners (masters) engage apprentices but would not keep to the “settlement” agreement at the expiration of the apprenticeship period.
While some masters hinge their default on financial constraints, others conjure one criminal allegation or another against their apprentices as reasons for reneging on the agreement.
But the ugly episode that occurred on February 14, a day universally seta apart to celebrate love and friendship was totally devoid of such inclinations. Chiemerie Anieke, an indigene of Ebonyi State, chose the august day to hack his boss and fellow Ebonyi indigene, Ikechukwu Nwite a.k.a. Turn-By-Turn, to death after less than three years of apprenticeship.
The situation has left many wondering what grouse Chimerie, who still had about four years left in his apprenticeship period had against his boss to the extent of dispatching him into early grave.
How it all began
Chiemerie, who was undergoing his apprenticeship in his master’s shop at the drug market popularly known as Ogbo-Ogwu, Bridge Head, Onitsha and also lived with his boss, was said to have returned late from work on that fateful day, prompting his boss’ sister Ogechukwu Nwite, who doubles as the shop’s manager, to call his elder brother on the phone to inform him about Chiemerie’s absence.
According to a neighbor who identified himself as Peter Kalu, Nwite, on hearing from his sister, instructed her not to allow Chimerie into the house anytime he returned, and should tell to go back to wherever he was coming from. Both Nwite and his sister were, however, oblivious of what Chimerie had up his sleeve. Unknown to Ogechukwu, Chimerie had sneaked into the house through the kitchen, hid behind the door and patiently awaited his master’s return.
Kalu said: “Immediately the master returned and entered through the kitchen, Chimerie rushed after him and struck him on the head repeatedly with a pestle.
“He then rushed into the room of Ogechukwu, who was already asleep, and attacked her also with the pestle. Luck, however, ran out on him as his master’s wife rushed out of her room and disarmed him after some struggle, raising the alarm that attracted neighbours who rounded him up and handed him over to the police.”
Kalu added that Nwite was later confirmed dead at the hospital while his body was deposited in the morgue. Ogechukwu on her part was still receiving treatment at the hospital.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said Chimerie had been arrested while the pestle he used in hitting his victims had been recovered from the scene.
Ikenga said: “The male suspect, Chiemerie Anieke, aged 21, who allegedly used a pestle to strike his master, Mr. Ikechukwu Nwite, on the head, resulting in his death, and also attacked his sister, Mrs. Ogechukwu Nwite, in the early hours of February 15, 2026 in Onitsha, is currently in custody.
“The pestle has been recovered from the scene.
“Preliminary information revealed that the suspect was allegedly provoked by the manner in which the late Ikechukwu (Nwite) admonished him over his bad behaviour, including pilfering money meant for the shop, staying out late at night, and taking drugs.
“Meanwhile, Ikechukwu’s sister was rescued and taken to the hospital, where she is currently responding to treatment.
“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for a comprehensive investigation and to ensure that justice is served.”
‘Why I killed my boss’
Speaking with The Nation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where his case was transferred to, the suspect denied most of the allegations, including drug addiction and returning home late on the fateful day. He however confessed to killing his master with pestle as well as attacking Ogechukwu with the same object.
He said: “I came over to Onitsha in 2023 to learn the trade at the instance of my elder brother who had connection with my master.
“I had to agree to relocate to Onitsha since my parents, who are peasant farmers, could not sponsor my university education even when I had passed both West African Examination Council (WAEC) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams.
“My relationship with my master was cordial until recently. I remember one of the days I came back from church activity and my Oga (boss) pounced on me, insisting I should tell him where I went to.
“I reported that experience to my elder brother who linked me up with him, but my brother advised me to patiently endure and see the maltreatment as part of the apprenticeship experience.
“In July last year, I met with a friend in Ogbo-Ogwu Market, Nnabuife and requested for his assistance to open a bank account for me so I could be saving money there. He agreed and opened the account, which I kept monitoring through PoS until it got to N5 million and I requested Nnabuife to help me withdraw the money.
“By then, I was already planning to quit apprenticeship to enable me establish mine. But by the time Nnabuife (who also is currently in police custody) withdrew the money, the amount he handed over to me was not complete. It was roughly above N3million.
“When I complained, he threatened to collect the entire money, insisting it was his own gain for assisting me to open the account and monitor it.
“This got me angry because I had already planned what I would do with the money.”
Asked what triggered the murder incident, he said: “I came back from the market around 7.30pm on that Saturday. I didn’t come back late, neither did I visit any girlfriend.
“Rather, I was not feeling fine. I noticed that my head was aching and I had to visit a chemist shop where I bought some drugs.
“Meanwhile, I took permission from my master’s sister before going. But before I came back, she had already called my boss to tell him that I was not at home, and he instructed that they should not let me in.
“I was outside for a long time before my Oga’s wife, who was ignorant of the directives from his husband, opened the door for me.
“I remained in the kitchen till around 3am when my master returned, and as he entered, I took the pestle in the kitchen and hit him thrice in the back of the head.
“I also dashed to the room where the sister was sleeping and hit her too. She suddenly woke up and struggled over the pestle with me before rushing out to call for neighbours’ intervention.
‘Why I killed my boss’
“I had been hearing rumours that my master had learnt about my savings, and was planning to collect the entire money and punish me severely.
“Since I was already fed up with what I was doing and had decided to quit so I could use the money to set up my own business, I had no option but to take the action.
“Besides, I had also begged him several times to buy a phone for me, being the only person in the entire compound without a phone, but he refused.”
Chiemerie, who denied his actions were triggered by drugs or alcohol, blamed it on the devil.
He said: “I used to take tablets of Tramadol. But when my Oga discovered I was taking the drug, he warned me to stop and I obeyed. I was not taking the drug before I came to Onitsha. So it was neither drugs nor alcohol that caused it.
“I can’t just explain what came over me on that day. I think it was the devil’s manipulation.
“Actually, my intention was not to kill him, but the maltreatment, especially the call from my Oga’s sister to him and his instructions to lock me out of the house, forced me to act that way.
Asked how he felt after the incident, the innocent looking but fearless boy, who showed no sign of remorse or penitence, said he was prepared to face the consequences of his actions. He said it was needless asking for forgiveness because he knew he would not be forgiven.
“I’m ready to face the consequences; whether death by hanging or by shooting. I am ready to die and face judgment, because I know I will not be forgiven even if I ask for it,” Chimerie said.
I never thought he could act in such a violent manner —Ogechukwu
Narrating her ordeal from her hospital bed, Nwite’s sister, Ogechukwu, said she was fast asleep when she suddenly felt a hard object hit her on the head.
“Before I could understand what was happening, the boy hit me again. It was when he attempted to hit me with the pestle the third time that I grabbed his hand, struggled to disarm him and run
outside to call for help.
“It was at that point I realised that the apprentice had already attacked my brother who was lying unconscious in the kitchen.”
According to Ogechukwu, Chimerie had been living and working with her brother for about three years. She said she was unaware of any major misunderstanding between them.
“The outstanding one I could remember was the day my brother scolded him for something he did wrong at the shop. Little did I know that such a minor issue could provoke the boy to act in such a violent way,” she said.
At the time of filing the report, Ogechukwu was yet to be informed of her brother’s death, having been restricted from accessing the internet or her mobile phone. The wife of the deceased trader could also not be reached as sympathisers crowded the family residence.
Describing the incident as regrettable, police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, drew certain pertinent lessons from it, including early intervention, balancing discipline with structured support, risks associated with substance abuse as well as setting boundaries between domestic work and business settings.
According to him, warning signs such as drug abuse, theft, and repeated misconduct should never be ignored. Seeking timely intervention through counseling, rehabilitation or community mediation can prevent situations from escalating into violence.
Ikenga said: “While correction is necessary, structured approaches, such as involving guardians, community leaders or appropriate authorities when issues persist may help reduce tensions and risks.
“Drug use can impair judgment, increase aggression and fuel criminal behaviour. Addressing substance abuse early through professional help is critical.
“Homes that double as work places should implement clear boundaries and safety measures, especially where domestic staff or apprentices reside on the premises,” he noted.
Underscoring the place of collaboration between community and law enforcement agencies, Ikenga enjoined parents and guardians to work with the police and other law enforcement agencies when addressing serious behavioural issues involving their wards or children.
“This unfortunate event underscores the need for vigilance, proactive conflict management and stronger social support systems within families, work places and communities,” Ikenga added.
