Police arrest 4 murder suspects, recover victim’s skull at a shrine

The Delta State Police Command on Monday disclosed the arrest of four murder suspects and the recovery of the skull of the deceased victim at a shrine in the state.

Murder suspects arrested in Delta

The Commissioner of Police of the Delta State Command, CP Abaniwonda S. Olufemi, in press briefing on Monday @DeltaPoliceNG described the incident as “particularly painful”, noting that it involved the murder of one Paulinus Okon ‘m’ by his bosom friend, One Efe Onoetiyi.

The Commissioner said that Paulinus was reported missing on 8/9/2024 by his brother after he went out with his friend, Efe Onoitiyi, ‘m’ age 30yrs.

The Commissioner narrated that the suspect, Efe Onoitiyi, who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus, came to Paulinus’s house to ask his family of Paulinus, then, 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 can tell them Paulinus’s whereabouts.

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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.

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.

The Commissioner, therefore, directed the DPO, Ekpan, to take over the case on 28th November 2024, and ensure that a discrete investigation is carried out to fish out those responsible, as the main suspect, Efe, was not yielding.

According ot the Commissioner, 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.

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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 N30 million which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid him N30 million 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 will save him the trouble.

Efe and the three other murder suspects are in custody, the Commissioner declared.