Kwania man, 73, dies after children disagree over land he sold for shs1.2m

On February 24, police in Kwania district started investigating a case of suspected suicide that occurred at about 4:20pm at Opokwele village, Acenlworo parish, Atongtidi sub-county, Kwania.

Olwee Jimmy, 45, peasant farmer and LC1 chairperson Opokwele village reported the incident to police 30 minutes after the crime had happened.

The deceased has been identified as Ogwang William, 73. He has been a resident of the same village and a lumber by occupation.

SP Jimmy Patrick Okema said preliminary findings indicate that on the said date and time, the deceased allegedly locked himself inside his house with a ten-litre jerrican containing petrol and set himself ablaze.

It is further established that prior to the incident, the deceased had sold a piece of land to one Ayoo Calvin and received an installment payment of shs1,200,000 without the consent of his family, which money he reportedly used.

Subsequently, the deceased’s children denied the buyer access to the land, prompting the buyer to lodge a complaint at Atongtidi sub-county Police Station.

The deceased was summoned and agreed to refund the said amount, committing himself to do so on February 24, 2026.

“It is alleged that upon failing to raise the money, he wrote a death note and later set himself on fire using petrol he had earlier procured for his lumbering activities,” SP Okema added.

Upon receipt of the report, police registered a case of suspected suicide at Atongtidi sub-county Police Station and commenced investigations.

The scene of crime was visited, examined and documented by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO). Statements were recorded from relevant witnesses to aid ongoing inquiries, PRO SP Okema added.

Handwritten death note was also recovered from inside the house as evidence to suicide, in which the deceased reportedly cautioned one of his daughters, identified as Adur, not to touch his body and directed the family to refund shs1,200,000 to Ayoo Calvin.

The body was conveyed to Aduku Health Centre IV mortuary pending postmortem examination.

“We therefore call upon members of the public to seek peaceful and lawful means of resolving domestic and land-related disputes.

“Anyone experiencing emotional distress is encouraged to seek support from family members, community leaders, religious leaders, or relevant authorities.

“Investigations remain ongoing, and further details will be communicated in due course,” SP Okema concluded in his statement dated February 26.

Since the year began, close to 15 murder related cases have been recorded with police across Lango sub-region.