By Damilola Adeleke

The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Olufemi Abaniwonda, announced the arrest of four individuals, including the prime suspect, in connection with the murder of a man over ₦30 million.

The victim was reportedly duped by his close friend, who later extorted an additional ₦20 million ransom from the victim’s family under false pretenses.During a press briefing on Monday, Abaniwonda disclosed that the victim’s decomposed skull was recovered from a shrine in Otokutu, Ughelli South Area of Delta State.

The Commissioner revealed, “The case involves Paulinus Okon, reported missing on September 8, 2024. Investigations identified his friend, Efe Onoitiyi, 30, as the main suspect. Initially, Efe denied knowing Paulinus’s whereabouts, but later approached the family, demanding ₦500,000 to pay a herbalist for information.

He subsequently claimed Paulinus was kidnapped and collected over ₦20.7 million as ransom.”Suspicious of Efe’s behavior, the family alerted the police, leading to his arrest. A detailed investigation implicated another suspect, Okeimute Gaga, 48, who confessed to participating in the murder. Okeimute stated that Efe lured Paulinus to the Orere River, where he was tied to a stake, beheaded, and his body disposed of in the river.

The herbalist, Lawrence Joseph, buried the victim’s skull at his shrine.Efe later admitted to using the ₦30 million meant for a property purchase to fund personal projects, including acquiring two plots of land and constructing a duplex.

Unable to return the money, he plotted and executed the murder. All four suspects are in police custody.