THE Delta State Police Command has arrested a 48-year-old man, Mr Efe Onoetiyi, for killing his best friend, Paulinus Okon, after collecting over N50m from the deceased.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, disclosed this on Monday while parading the man alongside four other killers.
He said, “I welcome you to this briefing which is particularly painful. 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, 30. The suspect, Efe Onoitiyi, who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus, came to the victim’s house to ask his family about him.
“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 could 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’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 November 28 2024, I directed the DPO Ekpan to take over the case and ensure that a discrete investigation was 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, 48. Upon his arrest, Okeimute Gaga 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 September 8, 2024, himself, Efe and Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30-year-old herbalist, Lawrence Joseph, tied Paulinus Okon to a stake at night close to Orere River and beheaded him.
“His body was thrown into the River while the herbalist took his head and buried him at his shrine in Otokutu. The DPO Ekpan Police Station led operatives to the shrine in Otokutu where the skull of Paulinus was exhumed and recovered.”
Olufemi stated that during interrogation, Efe was asked why he killed his friend Paulinus.
In his response, the CP said, “Efe stated that he saw a building for sale at N30m, which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid N30m 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 would save him the trouble. Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.”
Olufemi urged members of the public to be vigilant especially this season about the friends they keep, lamenting that parents are no longer taking the upbringing of their children, especially the boy children, seriously.
In an interview with the suspects, they all confessed to the crime, saying that the victim’s head was sacrificed to the gods of the community.