The tragic murder of Success Izekor, a young woman full of life and kindness, has left her family and community in deep mourning.
Kelvin Izekor, her husband of eight months, allegedly took her life in a brutal act of domestic violence. The late Success, who was four months pregnant, was well-loved and respected, making her sudden death even more painful.
Speaking in an emotional interview, Ugiagbe Iziegbe, the elder sister of the deceased, described Success as a peaceful and caring person who avoided conflicts and was quick to apologize, even when she wasn’t at fault.
“My sister was very lively and lovely. She never argued or did anything that would bring disgrace to her,” Ugiagbe recalled.
Success met Kelvin at Oregbeni Market in Ramat Park, where she ran a clothing and Point-of-Sale (PoS) business. Kelvin, a fish farmer, was a regular at her shop, and their relationship blossomed into marriage.
However, trouble soon surfaced in their union as Kelvin repeatedly physically abused his wife. Ugiagbe revealed that Success often ran to her house for safety, only to be pressured into returning by Kelvin’s mother, who claimed her son couldn’t live without her.
“Kelvin’s mother would cry and beg my sister to return home, saying her husband would die if she left. My sister had a good heart and didn’t want to see anyone in pain, so she always went back,” she explained.
Ugiagbe took a stand, confronting Kelvin multiple times and even removing Success from the house on several occasions. But each time, Kelvin’s mother interfered, pleading for her return.
The series of abuse escalated on Friday night, when Success called her sister, crying for help. She reported that her husband was beating her again and had locked the gate to prevent her from escaping. She had hoped to flee to Ugiagbe’s house, but that was the last conversation they had.
By Saturday morning, her phone was switched off. A worried Ugiagbe rushed to her house and market stall, but Success was nowhere to be found. When she tried calling Kelvin, his phone was also off.
By Sunday, rumors began spreading at the market that Success was dead. Several calls confirmed her worst fears: Kelvin had killed his wife in their home at Upper Mission Extension, Edo State.
Kelvin attempted to dispose of the body. According to a local store owner, he came with a bus and requested the key to the main gate, claiming he wanted to take his wife’s body away. He also lied that he had been calling her family, but no one responded.
“The neighbors held him down and reported the crime to the police,” Ugiagbe stated.
When the police arrived, Kelvin was arrested, and Success’s corpse was taken to the mortuary. Investigations revealed that Kelvin had gone to his wife’s store after her death to steal her money, with over ₦300,000 found on him.
The case has now been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Edo State Police Command, and Kelvin has been remanded in prison. The police have also confirmed that an autopsy will be conducted.
Ugiagbe and her family are demanding justice, ensuring that Success’s death does not become just another statistic of domestic violence.
“Kelvin didn’t just kill my sister; he killed two people—my sister and the unborn baby she was carrying,” Ugiagbe said.
She has taken to social media to raise awareness and keep the case in the public eye. Meanwhile, the market where Success worked has been closed for days as traders mourn her.
Success’s father is devastated by the loss, struggling with immense grief. Her niece, whom she was supporting through school, has been inconsolable.
The family and community are calling on the government and human rights organizations to ensure Kelvin faces the full weight of the law.
“We need justice. My sister was too good to die like this,” Ugiagbe pleaded.
