My brother was beaten to death by step-siblings over bag theft allegation — Sister

Glory Ibianga, whose 43-year-old elder brother, Bassey, allegedly died after being tortured by their step-siblings over an accusation of stealing a bag, tells AYOOLA OLASUPO about the family’s troubled history, the circumstances surrounding his death and her demand for justice

Tell us about the relationship among members of your family.

I am the seventh child and the last daughter in the family. Our relationship has not been cordial because of past incidents. The problems date back to January 3, 2010, when I was in JSS 3.

I was brushing my teeth in our family house when one of my stepsisters accused me of pouring water on her. We had a brief argument and went our separate ways. Later that day, I went to my friend’s place, where we were sitting in an open space behind an uncompleted building. Three of my stepsisters came there with hot water in a flask.

One of them called a woman who was sitting nearby with a baby. As the woman moved towards her, the hot water was poured. It did not fall directly on me, but I was the target. Some splashed on my back, while the woman whose hair I was helping to plait sustained burns on her hand.

I felt I had done nothing to warrant that treatment. There were three of them, and they ganged up against me. We tried to settle the matter as a family, but our relationship never returned to what it was before.

Did your parents intervene to resolve the issues?

My father was diabetic and died in June 2011, a year after the incident. I spent six months unable to turn properly and had to lie flat. It was a painful experience, but we left the matter because we considered it a family issue. My mother is still alive, but there is little she can do about the situation.

How many children did your father have?

He had 20 children, although four lived elsewhere. He had two legally married wives, and the other children were born outside wedlock. My mother and stepmother had eight children each. My stepbrothers and stepsisters have never really had a good relationship with us. There has always been one problem or another.

You have been at the forefront of seeking justice for your late brother, Bassey. How would you describe your relationship with him?

We were very close. He was the third child, while I was the seventh, but it was unusual for a week to pass without us speaking. I am active on Facebook and other social media platforms, and I am using them to speak out. It is the only way I know to seek justice for him and get my message across.

You alleged that two of your stepbrothers and a stepsister attacked and tortured Bassey to death. What do you know about the incident?

I spoke with Bassey shortly before the incident. He was the only one living in the village with my mother. He once called me because he had a toothache, and we contributed money to have the tooth removed. We also discussed other casual matters. I reminded him to continue assisting my mother. We did not discuss any problems he might have been having with anyone.

How did you learn that he was accused of stealing your stepsister’s bag?

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, I returned from church at about 11am. As I was going to charge my power bank, a friend in the village called to tell me that my brother was dead. I was shocked and could not move. I wondered how it could have happened because we had spoken only a week earlier, including on the Friday before the incident.

My friend said my stepbrother had accused Bassey of stealing my stepsister’s bag and that they beat him up. The incident reportedly happened around 6am. The person who informed me had gone to church and heard about his death when she returned. She had called earlier, but my phone was switched off because I was in church.

I immediately called my mother. She had travelled to attend the burial of a close friend’s grandmother and returned to the village that Sunday. She did not know exactly what had happened but thought Bassey had been taken to hospital after being beaten.

When I called another brother, however, he told me Bassey was already dead. He said that when he saw him, his hands were cold and his body was stiff.

According to him, after the beating, my stepbrothers carried Bassey into our sitting room and left to attend to their businesses. When my mother returned, she thought he was merely weak from the beating. She was told he would be taken to hospital, but she did not know he was already dead. It took about two to three hours before we were able to tell her what had happened.

Did you confront the stepbrothers who allegedly tortured him?

No. I contacted people in the area whom I knew and asked them to tell me what actually happened. I was crying and asking why they did not intervene and rescue my brother.

From the accounts I received, some people tried to enter our fenced family compound but were chased away. My stepbrothers allegedly told them to leave because it was a family matter. One of the neighbours said she thought it was an ordinary fight and did not imagine it would result in his death.

I was particularly upset that nobody called me when it all started. They could have informed me so I would know what was happening.

What aspects of the circumstances surrounding Bassey’s death remain unclear to you?

I spoke to four people. I was overwhelmed, shouting and crying because I could not understand how my brother could have been beaten to death. They gave me similar accounts. Some said they tried to intervene, but the attackers refused to listen. They eventually left because they feared for their own safety.

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I was told that one of my stepbrothers was feared in the community and was allegedly involved in selling hard drugs, including cocaine and ice. He was also said to have boys working with him. The people who tried to intervene reportedly pleaded with him, but he told them to leave because it was a family matter.

I was also told that Bassey pleaded to be allowed to use the toilet, but they refused. He eventually defecated on himself.

Did Bassey have any previous confrontation with the two stepbrothers?

Yes. They had an altercation in 2015 when we were sharing our late father’s property. There was a disagreement over the rooms and other belongings. Although we eventually shared the property, another argument broke out the following day, and the two stepbrothers fought with Bassey.

During the fight, one of them hit Bassey on the forehead with an object, causing him to bleed. I was there and went to call people to separate them.

Their eldest brother, who did not live in the same house, later arrived and caused further trouble. He entered my mother’s room, ransacked it and damaged her belongings. I had to run to a neighbour’s compound for safety.

There were further threats and confrontations. At one point, Bassey was arrested and taken to court over the fight. We felt the matter was not handled fairly because the other family had money and access to lawyers.

Bassey was reportedly tied up and prevented from using his phone to make calls. On the way, he passed near the house of my aunt, my mother’s sister. He managed to stretch out his hand and call for help. We did not even know he had been arrested and taken to court until we started making enquiries. He spent five days in custody before returning home.

One of my stepbrothers also allegedly threatened that he would come after me, no matter how long it took. He boasted at the police station that he had been to prison and secured his release because of his connections, and that he could pay his way out of trouble. My mother and sister were present when he made the statement.

We have endured a lot from these people. I do not know whether they will use their influence or money to interfere with this case, but we want justice. Their money should not be used to cover it up.

In a social media post, you said you had disowned your stepbrothers and stepsister. Why did you make thatdecision?

It is because of everything I have mentioned. We have endured so much from them. My mother has also suffered. When I was younger, around 12 or 13, I remember how she would avoid trouble by going into her room whenever there was a disagreement with my stepmother.

My stepmother would bang on the door, asking her to come out so they could fight. Whenever I entered my mother’s room, I would find her on her knees praying. She was very devoted to prayer and always avoided trouble.

I have had enough. I can tolerate many things, but I cannot accept the killing of my brother. I cannot come to terms with it. Since the incident, I have barely eaten or drunk anything. I cannot understand how a quarrel could lead to his death.

Have the police got involved in the case?

Before anyone could touch him, the hospital said a police report was required. My brother went to call the police, who came, took photographs and recorded videos. They confirmed that Bassey was dead.

What progress have the police made so far?

As far as I know, they have not carried out any further investigation beyond coming to the scene on Wednesday and transferring the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

I was also told that a woman involved in the incident ran away after the two brothers were arrested and went to her husband’s home with her children. She allegedly made arrangements with some thugs to attack the police station and secure the brothers’ release.

Someone reportedly alerted the Divisional Police Officer and my brother about the plan. The youth vigilante group was also informed that some people intended to attack and destroy the station to prevent the brothers from being taken away.

The vigilantes were around, and the planned attack did not happen.

The people involved reportedly threatened to return and destroy the station.

What kind of justice are you seeking for your brother?

Let the court decide. I want the police to conduct a proper investigation and do everything required before the case goes to court. If those responsible are found guilty, they should face the appropriate punishment.

They have shown no remorse. When we went to see them in Calabar, my mother was also there. My two brothers and I went ahead of her. The men looked at us, lowered their eyes and continued walking as though nothing had happened. They have been boasting about having money, but they should not think that money will protect them from justice.

I appeal to the Inspector-General of Police not to allow this case to be swept under the carpet. I want justice for my brother. The torture he endured before his death was beyond imagination. I want the court to decide what happens to those responsible.