Metro

How Labourers Hack Pastor To Death In Ondo, Wife Escaped With Injuries, Hospitalised

Published

2 years ago

August 14, 2023

A labourer, Muhammed Musa, has said that he killed a Pastor, Dada Itopa, on his farm in Ipele in the Owo council area of Ondo state, because an herbalist demanded for a fresh head from him.

Musa who was apprehended by police detectives in the state, hacked the pastor to death with a cutlass.

He equally injured the victim’s wife, Bose Dada, after they engaged the service and one other labourer now at large to clear his farm.

The suspect and the other labourer reportedly turned against the couple after they concluded negotiation on the work to be done in the farm.

Vanguard gathered that the 45-year-old victim, hired the labourers from Kogi state, and they agreed to clear the weeds on the pastor’s farm for N11,000.

But, the unexpected reportedly happened when Musa pleaded with the pastor to give his cutlass to them to do the clearing because it was sharper than theirs

Not knowing the intentions of the labourer, the pastor, reportedly handed over the cutlass to the suspect, who in turn, pounced on him and hacked him to death in the presence of his wife.

The victim’s wife reportedly escaped with several degrees of injuries and is presently on admission to the Federal Medical Centre FMC, hospital, in Owo.

It was learnt that the suspect (Musa), was arrested by the police after the incident was reported at the Ipele police station while Omatai ran away from the town.

He reportedly confessed that they carried out the killing of the Pastor to severe his head and deliver it to a herbalist in the town who demanded a fresh head.

In an interview, Musa said that “I only macheted the wife while trying to run away but it was my oga who macheted the Pastor. We pretended to agree to work on the Pastor’s farm not knowing that the wife will follow us to the farm.

“I am from Kogi state and I help people to do farm work before Omatai introduced me to the business. The herbalist and Omatai have been on the run since the incident happened”

Speaking on the arrest, the state police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said the 30-year-old Musa, was arrested for hacking a farmer, Dada Itopa to death at Ebira camp, off Ipele, in Owo council area of the state.

Odunlami explained that “on the 7th of August, 2023 at about 0800hrs, One Dada Itopa ‘M’ aged 45 years old Pastor and his wife Dada Bose went to their farmland at Ebira camp Ipele in company of two labourers, Mohammed Musa ‘M’ aged 30years and Omatai ‘m’ who is now at large to help them clear weeds on their farmland and a sum of N11,000 was agreed upon for workmanship.

“In the process, Omatai requested for a cutlass from Dada Itopa under the pretence that he wanted to use it to work on the farm but hacked Dada to death.

“The victim’s wife, who tried crying for help to prevent him from escaping was also macheted on the head by Mohammed Musa, and the victim is currently at the Hospital.”

Odunlami added that “In the course of the investigation, Mohammed Musa confessed that they carried out the attack because they needed to deliver a human head to a herbalist who requested it in Ipele.
VANGUARD

Metro

Two Brothers Miraculously Escape From Kidnappers’ Den In Edo

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

Two brothers, identified as Isaac and Victor Olayere, who were kidnapped on November 8 along Adughe and Imoga Road have miraculously escaped from kidnappers’ den.

The two brothers were taken into the bush as soon as they were kidnapped, throwing Uma/Imoga community into confusion, as the kidnappers demanded N22 million ransom.

While the community was still at a loss over how to raise the ransom, the victims called their father with an unknown number, telling him they had escaped from the kidnappers den.

The Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye revealed this during a telephone interview.

He called on the authorities to come to the rescue of Imoga, a town he said, shares border with Ondo and Kogi, thereby making it prone to kidnapping activities.

He said, “The two brothers were kidnapped on November 8 along Adughe and Imoga Road and were taken into the bush.

“Later, the kidnappers reached out to the family and demanded a ransom of N22 million, throwing the ancient community of Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Edo State.

“I swiftly reported the incident to the Ibillo Police Station with the hope that the rescue effort will lead to the release of the brothers.

“It was said that somehow, the kidnappers suddenly went into a deep slumber in the forest, enabling their victims to escape. They were found by the vigilante of Adughe, a neighbouring community in Kogi that speaks the same Okpameri language with Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo.

“The vigilantes called Imoga people and the youth mobilised and entered the forest, but they could not see the kidnappers who had woken up after their captives had escaped and fled.

He noted that the activities of kidnappers and armed herders have become a major problem in the community, urging the authorities to create a police post in the area.

He added, “We need police presence in Imoga. If a police post is created here, the officers will patrol the community which will give the resident rest of mind.

“Imoga is the largest village in Akoko Edo, particularly in terms of land mass, into which many herders have entered en masse. It is the link between Edo State and the northern part of the country.”

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 39 Suspects With 2,477.59kg In Edo

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, have arrested thirty-nine (39) suspected drug traffickers with 2,477.59 Kg of narcotic drugs.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, state commander of the NDLEA made this known in a statement titled: operational scorecard for October 2025, which he made available to newsmen in Benin on Monday.

According to the statement, the suspects consist of twenty-seven (27) males and twelve (12) females.

The statement added that, within the period under review, three cannabis sativa farms measuring 6.711192 hectares with an estimated yield of 16,777.98 kg were also destroyed.

A breakdown of the total 2,477.59 kg of seized drugs indicates that Cannabis Sativa 2,476.87 kg; Tramadol 0.3575 kg; Nitrazepam 0.068 kg; Bromazepam 0.8141 kg; Diazepam 0.084 kg; Swinol 0.0036 kg; Danabol (Molly) 0.013 kg; Methamphetamine (abandoned) 0.0465 kg and Codeine Syrup 0.1 litre.

According to the statement, three cannabis farms located in the Ugbodo Forest of Ovia North East Local Government Area, covering an area of 6.71 hectares, with an estimated yield of 16,777.98 kg of illegal crops, were eliminated.

The command’s prosecution unit also made significant strides in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.

“October saw the conviction of eleven individuals involved in drug-related offences and eleven new cases charged in the courts. Currently, there are 121 pending cases at the Federal High Court in Benin City.

“Our commitment remains steadfast as we continue to enforce the law, educate members of the public, and rehabilitate affected individuals who have problems using drugs.

“The fight against drug trafficking is relentless, and those who continue to engage in this illegal trade will face not only heightened enforcement but also stiffer penalties,” the statement reads.

Metro

Police Rescue Stolen Boy, Arrest Six Over Child Trafficking In Anambra

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a three-year-old boy who was stolen in the state and arrested six members of a child-stealing and trafficking syndicate operating across Anambra, Enugu, and Lagos states.

A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said that on September 4, following a petition from the victim, operatives attached to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, began an investigation into the case.

Ikenga explained that the petition detailed how the complainant’s daughter had left her three-year-old son in the care of one Samuel Ibe of Umusiome, Nkpor Uno, while she briefly went to her shop.

“On her return, both the child and the said Samuel were missing. Swift investigative actions by the operatives led to the arrest of the said Samuel Ibe. His confessional statement subsequently led to the arrest of his mother, Agatha Ejeweh, 35, and his younger brother, Ejeweh Chigozie Chidera, 15,” he said.

He further disclosed that operatives extended their investigation to Enugu State, where one Angela Eze, 30, was apprehended for collaborating with Juliet Onah to facilitate the transfer of the stolen child to Lagos.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives proceeded to Lagos State, where a suspect, China Cosmas, was arrested and the stolen child was successfully rescued. The child has since been reunited with his family in good health,” Ikenga added.

He confirmed that the suspects involved in the crime are currently in custody and will be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

Ikenga reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that criminal elements should not consider Anambra State a safe haven for any form of criminal enterprise.