THE Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has said that operatives have arrested four murder suspects including the mastermind who duped the victim of N30 million before further receiving ransom of over N20 million from family.
The police said they retrieved the decomposed skull of the victim at a shrine in Otokutu community, Ughelli South Area of Delta State.
This was revealed in a press briefing on Monday.
According to Abaniwonda, “It involves the murder of one Paulinus Okon ‘m’ by his bosom friend one Efe Onoetiyi. Paulinus was reported missing on 8/9/2024 by his brother after he went out with his friend Efe Onoitiyi ‘m’ age 30yrs.
“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.
“On a later date, Efe came back and demanded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#500,000) 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 twenty million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand naira (#20,715,000) 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 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 ‘m’ aged 48yrs old. Okeimute Gaga upon his arrest opened up and confessed that he can 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 and Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30yrs 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 him 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 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 me will save him the trouble. Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.” He added.
