Police in Delta State have uncovered the remains of Paulinus Okon, a victim of a gruesome murder allegedly orchestrated by his close friend, Efe Onoeti.
This was confirmed by the State’s Police Commissioner, Abaniwonda Olufemi, in a press briefing.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the CP ordered an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after learning about the horrific crime.
The sequence of events leading to Paulinus’ death began when he was reported missing on September 8, 2024, by his brother, after going out with his friend, Efe Onoeti, a 30-year-old man.
Initially, Efe denied knowing anything about Paulinus’ whereabouts. However, he later visited the family, claiming Paulinus had been kidnapped and requested a ransom of N500,000 to consult a herbalist who could locate him.
Eventually, Efe allegedly collected a ransom of N20.7 million from the victim’s brother, claiming he was in touch with the kidnappers.
As suspicion grew around Efe, he was arrested, and the investigation was taken over by the State CID.
After further intelligence gathering, one of the suspects, Okeimute Ogaga, a 48-year-old man, was apprehended.
During interrogation, Okeimute confessed that on the night of September 8, 2024, Efe, Okeimute, Sunday, and a 30-year-old herbalist named Lawrence Jo lured Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu, tied him to a stake, and beheaded him.
The body was discarded in the river, and the head was buried at a shrine by the herbalist.
In a shocking revelation, Efe explained that the motive behind the murder was financial.
He had convinced Paulinus to invest N30 million in a property he claimed was for sale, but instead of using the money to purchase the house, Efe used it for personal gain, buying land and constructing a duplex.
Fearing Paulinus would find out, Efe decided to murder him to avoid the consequences of his actions.
Following the confession, police recovered Paulinus’ skull from the shrine in Otokutu. Efe and the other suspects are now in custody.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, with local activist Mr. Israel Joe bringing attention to the crime on social media.
Joe, who has been advocating for justice, revealed that Paulinus had been running a successful boutique business in the Otokutu area before his tragic death.
In his social media posts, Joe emphasized the need for justice for Paulinus’ family, calling attention to the betrayal by a close friend and the extortion that continued even after the beheading.
A viral video from Joe also featured a man recounting previous attempts on Paulinus’ life, adding to the chilling nature of the crime.
