How 18-year-old Apprentice Killed Master With Pestle

* An 18-year-old apprentice allegedly killed his master Iyke with a pestle.

* The victim was a prominent businessman at Ogbo-Ogwu Market.

On Sunday evening in Fegge, an 18-year-old from Ebonyi State allegedly grabbed a mortar pestle from the kitchen and struck his boss, simply known as Iyke, on the head during a heated argument.

Iyke, a hardworking pharmaceutical dealer at the renowned Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Medicine Market — one of Anambra's vital trading hubs — succumbed to his injuries despite being rushed to hospital.

Eyewitnesses described the moment horror unfolded.

“The 18-year-old boy from Ebonyi State picked a mortar pestle from the kitchen and hit his master on the head during an altercation on Sunday evening,” one told reporters.

“The incident shook the residents of the entire area.”

Another added, “The victim was a trader at Ogbo Ogwu Market, one of the city’s major trading hubs.”

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the arrest on Monday.

“Yes, the incident happened on Sunday. The suspect is already in custody. Also, the pestle he used has been recovered.”

He elaborated, “The boss scolded the suspect for his behaviour of pilfering money in the shop, taking drugs and coming back late at night.

"It resulted into altercation and the situation escalated, resulting in the suspect using a pestle from the kitchen to hit his boss on the head.”

Reports from Punch Newspapers note Iyke's reputation as a successful, community pillar, making his loss a profound blow to the market ecosystem where apprentices depend on such figures for guidance and opportunity.