The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a 48-year-old man, Efe Onoetiyi, for allegedly murdering his close friend, Paulinus Okon, following the misappropriation of over ₦50 million from the victim. This was disclosed by the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, during a press briefing where he paraded Onoetiyi along with four other suspects involved in the crime.
According to the Commissioner, Okon was reported missing on September 8, 2024, by his brother after last being seen with his friend, Onoetiyi. Initially, Onoetiyi denied any knowledge of the victim’s whereabouts, but later came to the family home, claiming to be concerned.
“After Paulinus went missing, Efe Onoetiyi repeatedly denied any involvement, even though it was clear he was the last person seen with him. Efe later approached the family, asking for N500,000, claiming he would use it to consult a herbalist who could help locate Paulinus,” Olufemi explained. The situation took a darker turn when Efe then claimed that Paulinus had been kidnapped, and through his apparent connections with the abductors, he managed to extract approximately ₦20.7 million as a ransom.
Suspicion grew, and it became clear that Efe was concealing something. As a result, the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Asaba. In a significant breakthrough on November 28, 2024, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ekpan, leading an intelligence-driven investigation, uncovered the involvement of another suspect, Okeimute Gaga. Upon his arrest, Gaga confessed to the crime, detailing how Efe orchestrated the murder.
Gaga revealed that on the night of September 8, Efe, along with Sunday Ikpeba and a 30-year-old herbalist, Lawrence Joseph, took Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu. There, they bound the victim to a stake and beheaded him. The body was discarded in the river, while the head was taken by the herbalist to his shrine, where it was buried. The police later recovered the skull from the shrine.
During interrogation, Efe Onoetiyi admitted to the murder, explaining that he had swindled Paulinus of ₦30 million under the guise of buying a property. Instead of making the purchase, Efe used the funds for personal investments, including buying land and building a duplex. Faced with the pressure of explaining his actions, Efe claimed that killing his friend was the only way to cover up his crime.
The police confirmed that Efe and the three other suspects are now in custody, with all of them confessing to their roles in the murder. Commissioner Olufemi urged the public to exercise caution, particularly during this festive season, regarding the people they associate with. He lamented the growing neglect in the upbringing of children, especially boys, by some parents, which he believes contributes to such tragic incidents.
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