Delta police command has arrested a 30-year-old man who beheaded his bosom friend, Paulinus Okon, by the river after collecting the sum of N30 million to purchase a building for him.
Instead of buying the house, the state commissioner of police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, explained that the suspect, Efe Onoetiyi, diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands, and was building a duplex for himself.
Parading the suspect in Asaba on Monday, the state police boss said Onoetiyi claimed that he did not know how to explain to the deceased that he had used his money, hence he decided that killing the friend would save him the trouble.
Abaniwonda narrated how the suspect lured the victim, Paulinus Okon, to a riverside where, in collaboration with a native doctor and another person, tied his hands to a stake and beheaded him. They then took the head and buried it in a shrine.
The head was later recovered by the police while Efe and three other suspects are in custody.
Abaniwonda explained: “Paulinus was reported missing on 8/9/2024 by his brother after he went out with his friend Efe Onoitiyi, age 30.
“The suspect Efe Onoitiyi, who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus, came to Paulinus’s house to ask his family about Paulinus. He was confronted that the deceased went out with him on that same date, which he denied.
“On a later date, Efe came back and demanded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#500,000) from the deceased’s brother, claiming he would use the money to pay a herbalist who could tell them Paulinus’s whereabouts.
“Efe again came and informed the family that Paulinus was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of about twenty million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand naira (#20,715,000) from the deceased’s 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, State Headquarters, Asaba.
“On 28th November 2024, I directed the DPO 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 DPO Ekpan carried out an intelligence-led investigation that indicted one Okeimute Gaga, aged 48. Okeimute Gaga, upon his arrest, opened up and confessed that he could no longer hide what happened.
“Okeimute Gaga 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, Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30-year-old 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 it at his shrine in Otokutu.
“The DPO 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 thirty million naira (#30,000,000) which he advertised to the deceased, and the deceased paid him Thirty Million Naira (#30,000,000) in three installments. 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 would save him the trouble. Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.”
