Man Kills Four Children, Commits Suicide In Rivers

Thirty – five – year -old Patrick Archibong , a resident of Alesa in the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, has committed suicide after killing his four children .
Archibong was said to have locked up in a room his four children , aged eight , five , three and one , and strangled them before hanging himself .

It was also gathered that Archibong had set the house , which he occupied as a tenant , on fire before taking his life .

A source told PUNCH Metro that Archibong ’ s wife raised the alarm after discovering what the husband did , and the incident was later reported to the police by the landlord of the house , identified as Gomba .

Archibong , who hailed from Ogoja in Cross River State, was said to have committed the crime at about 1 am on Tuesday when neighbours had already gone to bed .

It was also learnt that the wife had escaped the aggression of her husband before he locked up the children and began to strangle them .

A source , who preferred anonymity , said , “ It is shocking that a father could kill his four children . After killing his four children , he locked their corpses in the room and set the house ablaze .

“ The man had earlier chased his wife away in the night and bolted the door before embarking on the killing spree that ended in him taking his own life . ”

It was also gathered that Archibong did not leave a suicide note to explain the reason for his action , especially the killing of his children .

When contacted , the Police Public Relations Officer in the state , Mr Nnamdi Omoni , confirmed the incident , adding that the landlord reported the matter to the police in Aleda , Eleme .

Omoni explained that the corpses of the deceased had been taken away for post -mortem , adding that the police had since commenced investigation into the matter.

He stated , “ In the early hours of today ( Tuesday ) , Mr Gomba , who is the landlord of Mr Patrick Archibong , reported the incident to the police . The corpses of the five persons have been sent to the mortuary .

“ An autopsy will soon be conducted on all the corpses . The reason for the action of the man ( Archibong ) has not been ascertained . ”