Pastor, 1 Other In Police Net Over Suspected Murder Of Boy In Edo

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday arrested a 45-year-year-old Pastor Ijebor Simon and Destiny Okojabhole, 23 years, over alleged murder of a 7-year-old boy, Evans Okojabhole.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Moses Yamu said the incident was reported by the deceased’s father, John Okhojibole who lives on Jehovah Witness Road, off Elebesunu Street in Irrua.

Yamu said the late Evans was sighted with his stomach ripped open, his feet severed from his ankle and some fingers cut off and dumped in the bush close to their house, 24 hours after he was reported missing.

“The Command is in receipt of a case of murder reported by one John Okhojibole of Jehovah Witness Road, off Elebesunu Street in Irrua.

“The unfortunate incident was reported on the 22/02/2025 at about 13:45 hours, when the remains of his seven year old son, Evans Okojabhole, was sighted with his stomach ripped open, his feet from his ankle and some fingers cut off and dumped in the bush close to their house at the above named address, 24 hours after he was reported missing.

“During preliminary investigations, two suspects, Pastor Ijebor Simon (45 years) and Destiny Okojabhole (23 years), have been arrested by operatives of Irrua Divisional Headquarters and transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department Benin-City for further investigation,” the statement read.

Similarly, Yamu also said that three persons, lbrahim Agboje (King), Yakubu Abudulkareem and Kareem Audu have been arrested over the killing of a 50-year-old vigilante commander, Victor Ogedengbe in his farm in Erah Camp, Owan East local government area of the state.

He added, “Similarly, on 25/02/2025 at about 07:30hrs, the Chairman of Owan East LGA reported at Afuze Division that one Vigilante Commander Victor Ogedengbe (50 years) of Erah Camp was killed in his farm by suspected herdsmen and was deposited at the hospital.

“Immediate investigation launched by operatives of the Afuze Division led to the arrest of three suspects, lbrahim Agboje (King), Yakubu Abudulkareem and Kareem Audu all of Erah Community and equally transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations,” the PPRO said.

Meanwhile, the Command has reviewed the security deployment in Uzanu and environs regarding the killing of two men by suspected herdsmen while in their farms in Okpekpe Community with a view to apprehend the perpetrators and forestall reoccurrence.

Yamu reiterates the commitments of the Command under CP Betty Enekpen Otimenyin towards a safe Edo State and appreciates the public support while appealing for more cooperation from the good people of the state to “see something and say something”.