The Delta State Police Command has arrested a man, Efe Onoetiyi, for allegedly murdering and beheading his friend, Paulinus Okon, after fraudulently diverting N30 million meant for a property purchase.
Parading the suspect alongside three accomplices on Monday in Asaba, the state Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, described the crime as a gruesome act of betrayal and greed.
The other suspects include Okeimute Gaga, Sunday Ikpeba, and Lawrence Joseph, a 30-year-old herbalist.
According to the police commissioner, Onoetiyi, who was entrusted with N30 million by Okon to purchase a house, misappropriated the funds. Instead of acquiring the property, he used the money to buy a plot of land, a car, and begin constructing a duplex for himself.
Olufemi revealed that Onoetiyi had advertised the house to his late friend, who paid for it in three instalments. When Okon’s family later questioned the suspect about the victim’s whereabouts, he initially denied being with him.
In an attempt to divert attention, Onoetiyi collected N500,000 from Okon’s family under the pretense of hiring a herbalist to locate the missing man.
He subsequently fabricated a story that Okon had been kidnapped and claimed the supposed abductors were demanding a N20 million ransom.
Narrating the events leading to the killing, Olufemi said Onoetiyi and his accomplices lured Okon to the Orere River in Otokutu on September 8, 2024. There, they tied the victim to a stake and beheaded him alive.
“His body was thrown into the river, while the herbalist, Lawrence Joseph, buried Okon’s severed head at his shrine in Otokutu,” the commissioner said.
During interrogation, one of the suspects, Okeimute Gaga, recounted how Onoetiyi orchestrated the murder. The police also disclosed that Onoetiyi admitted to the crime, confessing that he killed Okon to cover up his fraudulent activities.
Police Assure Justice
Olufemi assured the public that the suspects would face the full weight of the law, emphasizing the police command’s commitment to ensuring justice for the deceased and his family.
“This is a tragic reminder of the dangers of misplaced trust and the devastating consequences of greed,” the commissioner added.
The suspects remain in custody, and investigations are ongoing to recover Okon’s remains for a proper burial.
This chilling incident has left the Otokutu community in shock, with many calling for swift justice against those involved.
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