A 56-year-old farmer, Henry Oyagbomwan, was allegedly murdered and buried in a shallow grave by five of his farm workers on May 13 in Igueze village, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to police sources, the tragic incident occurred shortly after the victim reportedly sold pineapples worth ₦900,000. The suspects allegedly collected the money, killed Oyagbomwan, and fled to different locations.
Shockingly, after the murder, the suspects contacted the victim’s family, demanding a ransom of ₦60 million. However, the family insisted on speaking with Oyagbomwan before agreeing to any payment. The suspects later reduced their demand to ₦300,000, which the family paid — after which all communication was cut off.
Following a report to the police, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched an investigation. One of the suspects, Bassey Uyong Umeh, was traced and arrested in a creek in Akwa Ibom State.
During interrogation, Umeh confessed that the victim had been killed and led investigators to the shallow grave where Oyagbomwan’s decomposed body was recovered.
The spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident and stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects who are still at large.
