Four suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command for allegedly killing a man identified as Paulinus Okon over N30million.
The suspects were identified as Okeimute Gaga, Efe Onoitiyi, Sunday Ikpeba and a 30-year- old herbalist, Lawrence Joseph.
The deceased was said to have been killed on September 8, 2024, at Otokutu area of the state, while his body was thrown into the river and the herbalist buried the head at his shrine.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda in a statement on Monday, stated that Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.
The statement reads: “It involves the murder of one Paulinus Okon by his bosom friend, one Efe Onoetiyi. Paulinus was reported missing on September 8, 2024, by his brother after he went out with his friend, Efe Onoitiyi.
“The suspect, Efe Onoitiyi, who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus came to Paulinus’s house to ask his family of Paulinus. He was confronted that the deceased went out with him on that same date which he denied that the deceased did not go out with him.
“On a later date, Efe came back and demanded N500, 000 from the deceased’s brother that he would use the money to pay a herbalist who can tell them Paulinus’s whereabouts.
“Efe again came and informed the family that Paulinus was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of about N20, 715, 000 from the deceased brother claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers. When it became obvious that Efe had something to hide, he was arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID), Asaba.
“On 28th November, 2024, I directed the divisional police officer Ekpan to take over the case and ensure that a discrete investigation is carried out to fish out those responsible as the main suspect Efe was not yielding.
“The divisional police officer Ekpan carried out an intelligence led investigation that indicted one Okeimute Gaga. Okeimute upon his arrest opened up and confessed that he can no longer hide what happened.
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Okeimute narrated how Efe brought Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu and requested that they kill him.
“The suspect further stated that on the 8th of September, 2024, himself, Efe and Sunday Ikpeba, and a herbalist known as Lawrence Joseph tied Paulinus Okon to a stake at night close to Orere River and beheaded him alive.
“His body was thrown into the river while the herbalist took the head of Paulinus and buried him at his shrine in Otokutu. The divisional police officer Ekpan Police Station led police operatives to the shrine in Otokutu where the skull of Paulinus was exhumed and recovered.
“During interrogation, Efe was asked why he killed his friend Paulinus. Efe stated that he saw a building for sale at a cost of N30, 000, 000 which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid him N30, 000, 000 in three instalments, but instead of buying the house, he diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands and was building a duplex for himself.
“He further stated that he did not know how to explain to the deceased that he had used his money hence he decided that killing him will save him the trouble. Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.”
