A 32-year-old mother of nine children, Esther Godday, had been arrested for killing a housewife, Mrs Imeran Idema, over a bunch of plantains.

The suspect who was pregnant with her 10th child was arrested by the Police in Rivers State.

She was reported to have gone to the plantation of the deceased woman’s family on the 28 of January 2024 to steal a bunch of plantains.

However, she was caught in the process by the deceased and a fight ensued.

The suspect said that she resorted to stealing the plantains because her husband could not take care of his large family.

She said her husband was unemployed, adding that she was the one responsible for sustaining the home.

She told the police that none of his nine children was in school.

According to the homicide section of the Rivers State Police Command Criminal Investigations Department, Esther, in a confession said, “She cut me and I cut her.”

Speaking on the issue, the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, urged people to think carefully before making life choices, charging heads of households to procreate within their means and to lead responsible lives.

A police source said, “On Wednesday, January 28, 2024, Esther Godday, had in her customary way, left her nine kids at home and gone into town in their little village of Agada in Abua to look for anything that could serve as food.”

The police source added that “Esther discreetly entered one of the plantain plantations and quickly harvested a bunch of plantains and made to make away with it.

“As she attempted to sneak past one of the exit points of the plantation, she was sighted by the family member on duty at the plantation, Mrs. Imeran Idema.

“Imeran with a machete in her hand, immediately accosted her and asked her to surrender the bunch.

“An altercation ensued, which led to Imeran landing a blow on Easter’s right foot, giving her a deep cut. Esther dropped the bunch and launched a counterattack with her own machete. She hit out with the machete, giving two significant cuts on Imeran’s head and shoulder. As Imeran collapsed in pain, Esther quickly left the scene, abandoning the bunch of plantains and fled.

“The police arrested Esther and, after questioning her, released her to receive medical attention for the cut on her foot.

“She was rearrested two days later, and when she got to the police station, she got the information that Imeran had died.”