Officers of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 45-year-old hunter, Kehinde Adetunji, for allegedly helping kidnappers abduct and kill his friend, Edafe Oghenekome, after collecting a ransom of N45 million.
According to The Nigerian Tribune, Oghenekome, who was 42 years old and worked as a pineapple farmer, was reportedly shot and left in a forest after he allegedly recognised Adetunji when the ransom money was being shared among the kidnappers. His body was later found in a bush where it had been left for days.
The incident happened in Utese Village, in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State. Adetunji, who worked as a hunter in the area, was said to have been friends with Oghenekome.
Police investigations showed that Adetunji allegedly told some herders that his friend had just sold pineapples worth millions of naira. This information reportedly made Oghenekome a target for kidnapping.
On February 4, 2026, kidnappers abducted Oghenekome and his sister, Favour Ighasa, from their home. Ighasa was released on February 9. However, after the ransom for Oghenekome was paid, the kidnappers stopped communicating, and he was not released.
The police spokesperson, DSP Eno Ikoedem, said officers first arrested a 21-year-old suspect, Abdulsalam Mohammadu. His alleged confession helped the police arrest other members of the group, including Adetunji, who was described as the gang’s local informant, and Nasiru Yau, 24, who allegedly supplied food to the kidnappers while they were hiding in the bush.
According to the police, the suspects admitted their roles in the kidnapping, collecting the ransom and killing Oghenekome. They also led detectives to the forest where the victim’s remains were found.
The remains were recovered from Igueladidi forest in Iguobazuwa after what the police described as a careful investigation.
Police said they recovered two AK-47 rifles with breach numbers 1686 and 2357, as well as three Dane guns, from the suspects.
The spokesperson added that the arrests followed the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, who ordered that all kidnapping cases must be thoroughly investigated.
She assured the public that the suspects would be taken to court once the investigation is completed.See_More…