By; Mawuli Faname
The Dzodze District Police Command has launched a manhunt for a 35-year-old man, Foster Zoryiku, for allegedly murdering his stepfather, Mr. Cornelius Amenyegbe Akakpo, 60, in Torgbeve, a village near Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region.
The suspect is alleged to have butchered the deceased in a bid to stop him from maintaining a relationship with his 55-year-old mother, Dofui.
According to information gathered, Mr. Amenyegbe had been married to Dofui for several years, a union well known within the community.
However, Foster reportedly disapproved of the relationship and had repeatedly threatened to kill his stepfather if he did not stay away from his mother.
Believing the threats were empty, Mr. Amenyegbe allegedly continued the relationship until tragedy struck on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that on the day of the incident, Foster was seen sharpening a cutlass while singing war songs and openly declaring his intention to kill his stepfather “by hook or by crook.”
An observant neighbour, who overheard the threats reportedly alerted the deceased, who was attending a family meeting at the time, advising him not to return home.
Mr. Amenyegbe subsequently sought refuge in the nearby village of Gbegbekope.
However, fate caught up with him when he later returned briefly to retrieve some personal belongings before relocating elsewhere.
Witnesses said Foster, who had allegedly hidden in a tree along the roadside, ambushed the deceased and attacked him with a cutlass, inflicting fatal injuries.
The suspect fled toward Dzodze after residents raised an alarm.
Residents claim Foster resurfaced in the village at dawn two days after the incident, armed with a cutlass and what appeared to be a gun.
Before the youth of the community could apprehend him, he reportedly escaped into the bush.
Meanwhile, a search conducted by officers of the Dzodze Police Command in the suspect’s room reportedly uncovered fetish objects and a fresh human skull, sparking fear and anxiety among residents.
The discovery has also revived memories of an incident about a year ago when several bodies were reportedly exhumed from the Torgbeve cemetery by unknown persons.
The body of Mr. Cornelius Amenyegbe Akakpo has been deposited pending autopsy, while police investigations continue.
Police are appealing to the public to provide any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect.
