Her friend of 20 years, according to her, snatched a boyfriend she planned to marry ten years ago.
For those years, she bore the bitter grudge, until they were reconciled two weeks ago. But the grudge remained, and when a window of opportunity presented itself, she allegedly choked and stabbed her to death.
According to a report in the Vanguard newspaper Anita Ofili was arrested on March 26 for allegedly committing the chilling crime against Glory Okon at her apartment at Greenville Estate, Ajah area of Lagos.
Occupants of the building were alerted by a shout for help from Ofili’s one-room self-contain apartment at 1.20p.m., penultimate Sunday.
They reportedly forced the door open, only to discover Ofili thrusting a kitchen knife into Okon’s neck.
Unfortunately, the victim, who was rushed to the General Hospital on Lagos Island, was confirmed dead, having lost so much blood.
One of the tenants of the building, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Vanguard, explained that “the landlord’s daughter was the one that heard the scream.
“She peeped through the window and saw a masked person stabbing a lady. She rushed and called her father, who alerted other tenants that forced the door open, only to discover that the masked person was Anita Ofili.
“The whole room was filled with blood. We discovered that the victim was still breathing. We had to tie Ofili’s legs and hands to prevent her from escaping.
“Before the arrival of the Police, Ofili did not show any sign of remorse. She said she would explain to the Police what happened.
“She claimed the lady in question was her friend and that her action was in revenge for what her friend did to her.”
Vanguard gathered that the suspect and the deceased had been friends for close to two decades and had attended the same tertiary institution.
They were said to have had a misunderstanding that tore them part for close to 10 years before they reconciled two weeks ago.
Vanguard further gathered that both of them returned from a party penultimate Sunday.
Explaining why she committed the act, Ofili said: “Glory and I had been good friends for years, but she betrayed that friendship by snatching my boyfriend.
“I had the intention of marrying him. Her action strained the relationship and we went our separate ways for 10 years.
“We only reconciled two weeks ago. I invited her to my house and the rest you know.”
Meanwhile, Vanguard was informed that family members of the suspect distanced themselves from Ofili over her action.
One of them, who visited the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, SCIID, yesterday, was heard telling others that “I knew Anita was troublesome, but I never knew she could go to this extent.
“I stopped visiting her over 12 years ago because of her character flaws.”
Meanwhile, a team of detectives visited Ofili’s apartment, yesterday.
Police sources said tramadol suspected to have been used to drug the deceased was recovered.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
He said: “At 5.50p.m., on March 26, a resident of Greenville Estate came to the station to report that he heard someone screaming from the room of one Annie Ofili, that himself and other tenants quickly rushed to the room, forced the door opened only to meet Annie on top of Glory Okon, who came to visit her.”
He said Ofili held Glory Okon’s throat and stabbed her on the neck and back with a kitchen knife, that they rushed Okon to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.
“Upon the information, a team of detectives moved to the scene. The suspect was arrested, the knife recovered, while the corpse was deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for autopsy and preservation.
“The suspect has been transferred to the SCIID, Yaba, for discreet investigation.”