The Delta State Police Command has arrested suspects in connection to the death of one Paulinus Okon who was murdered by his bosom friend identified as Efe Onoetiyi.
Paulinus’s brother reported him missing on September 8, 2024, after he went out with 30-year-old Efe Onoitiyi.
According to the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, the suspect initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus.
He was said to go to Paulinus’s house to ask his family about him and he was confronted that the deceased went out with him on that same date which he denied.
On a later date, Efe 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.
Edafe said 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 November 28, 2024, the DPO Ekpan was directed 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 carried out an intelligence-led investigation that indicted that 48-year-old Okeimute Gaga was connected to the matter.
Upon his arrest, Gaga opened up and confessed that he can no longer hide what happened. 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 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 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. Efe stated that he saw a building for sale at a cost of 30 million which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid the money 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.
