Delta State Police Command in Nigeria has arrested a 48-year-old Nigerian man, Mr Efe Onoetiyi, for killing his best friend, Paulinus Okon, after collecting over N50m from the deceased victim and his family.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, disclosed this on Monday while parading the man alongside four other killers.
Abaniwonda said: “I welcome you to this briefing which is particularly painful. It involves the murder of one Paulinus Okon by his bosom friend, one Efe Onoetiyi.
“Paulinus was reported missing on September 8, 2024, by his brother after he went out with his friend, Efe Onoitiyi, 30. The suspect, Efe Onoitiyi, who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus, came to the victim’s house to ask his family about him.
“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 N500,000 from the deceased’s brother that he would use the money to pay a herbalist who could tell them Paulinus’s whereabouts.
“Efe again came and informed the family that Paulinus was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of about N20,715,000 from the deceased’s brother claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers.
“When it became obvious that Efe had something to hide, he was arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department State Headquarters Asaba.