How 30-year-old Man Beheaded His Friend, Buried His Head In A Shrine Over N30m Debt In Delta

…As police arrest four prime suspect, herbalist, others

The Delta State Police Command, has intensified investigation into circumstances surrounding how one Efe Onoetiyi allegedly connived with a herbalist and two others to murder one Paulinus Okon, his bosom friend over N30 million he gave him to purchase a building but couldn’t account for.

Already, the police have arrested the prime suspect in the heinous crime and three others in a bid to unravel the crime.

According to the state police commissioner, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, who paraded the suspects before newsmen, Efe’s alleged deceitful actions began when he denied knowing Paulinus’s whereabouts after he went missing on September 8, 2024.

The victim

He even went as far as asking Paulinus’s family for N500,000 to pay a herbalist to locate Paulinus.

Later, he claimed that Paulinus had been kidnapped and collected a ransom of N20.7 million from Paulinus’s brother.

The CP said; “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 that the deceased did not go out with him.

“On a later date, Efe came back and demanded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (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 twenty million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand naira (N20,715,000) from the deceased brother claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers”.

The suspects

Investigations led by the DPO Ekpan Police station revealed that Efe, along with three other suspects, including a 48-year-old man named Okeimute Gaga and a 30-year-old herbalist named Lawrence Joseph, tied Paulinus to a stake near Orere River in Otokutu and beheaded him alive.

The suspects then threw Paulinus’s body into the river, while the herbalist buried his head at his shrine.

“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.

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Continuing, the Police boss 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.

“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”.

However, following diligent efforts of the Delta State Police Command, the four suspects were arrested and now in custody.

The skull of Paulinus’s remain has since been recovered from the shrine where it was buried.

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