In a chilling revelation during a press briefing on Monday, Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, disclosed the arrest of four individuals involved in the murder of Paulinus Okon. The mastermind, identified as Efe Onoetiyi, a close friend of the victim, allegedly swindled Okon out of N30 million before demanding and receiving over N20 million more in ransom from the victim’s family.
Paulinus Okon was reported missing on September 8, 2024, after leaving with Efe. Initially, Efe denied any knowledge of Okon’s whereabouts but later returned to the family, first asking for N500,000 to consult a herbalist, then claiming Okon was kidnapped, and securing a significant ransom under false pretenses.
The investigation took a dark turn when Efe’s involvement became undeniable, leading to his arrest and the case being escalated to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Asaba. Further investigation by the DPO of Ekpan led to the arrest of Okeimute Gaga, who confessed to participating in the murder. According to Gaga, Efe had brought Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu, where they brutally killed him by beheading him alive after tying him to a stake. The victim’s body was dumped in the river, and his skull was buried in a shrine by a herbalist named Lawrence Joseph.
Police operatives, acting on this confession, exhumed Okon’s skull from the shrine in Otokutu. During interrogation, Efe admitted to using the N30 million he had received from Paulinus for personal gains, including buying land and constructing a duplex, rather than purchasing the advertised property. He confessed that the murder was planned to avoid the embarrassment and accountability of having misused the funds.
The four suspects, including Efe, Okeimute Gaga, Sunday Ikpeba, and Lawrence Joseph, are currently in custody, facing charges for this heinous crime. This case sheds light on the dark side of betrayal and greed, underscoring the urgent need for vigilance and integrity in personal and business dealings.
I think the suspects might be innocent. We need to consider all angles before jumping to conclusions. #InnocentUntilProvenGuilty
I think the police should focus on preventing crimes rather than just arresting suspects after the fact. Prevention is key!
I think the suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Lets not jump to conclusions based on the medias portrayal.
Innocent until proven guilty? Tell that to the victims. Justice should prevail.
I think the police should focus on prevention rather than just arrests. We need to address the root causes of such crimes.
Prevention is key, but arrests are also necessary to hold offenders accountable. Balance is crucial.
I think the police should focus on prevention rather than just catching suspects after the fact. Lets address the root causes!
I think the suspects deserve a fair trial before we jump to conclusions. Innocent until proven guilty, right?
Of course, but lets not forget about the victims who deserve justice too.
Do you think the police are using the right methods to solve the case? I have my doubts. #JusticeForAll #ControversialOpinion
I think the police should focus on preventing crimes before they happen instead of just making arrests after the fact.
Preventing crimes is ideal, but policing is complex. Balancing prevention and response is key.
I think we should abolish the police altogether and rely on community-based solutions instead. Its time for a radical change.
Abolishing the police completely is dangerous and unrealistic. We need reform, not eradication.
I think the police should focus on preventing crime instead of just arresting suspects after the fact. Its not enough.
I think the police should focus on preventing crimes rather than just arresting suspects after the fact. Prevention is key!
I think the suspects should be given a chance to explain themselves before jumping to conclusions. Innocent until proven guilty, right?
I think the suspects are innocent until proven guilty. The police should investigate further before jumping to conclusions.
Innocent until proven guilty doesnt mean no investigation. Let the facts speak.
I dont buy it, I think the suspects were framed. This case is fishy, theres more to it. #ConspiracyTheory
I wonder if the police are getting too trigger-happy with these arrests. Innocent until proven guilty, right? #JusticeForAll