Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The operatives of the Edo State Police command have nabbed a 45-year-old hunter, Kehinde Adetunji
for selling his farmer friend, Edafe Oghenekome, to kidnappers who collected N45 million ransom.
Oghenekome was said to have been shot dead and left to decay in the bush after he recognised his friend while they were sharing the ransom with his kidnappers.
It was learnt that Adetunji, who carried out his hunting business at Utese Village in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state had struck up a friendship with the late Oghenekome, a pineapple farmer.
He was alleged to have informed some herders in the bush that Oghenekome recently sold pineapple worth millions of naira, leading to the abduction of Oghenekome and his sister, Favour, last month.
The kidnappers were said to have released Favour but stopped communication about Oghenekome after collecting the ransom.
Speaking on the incident, the image maker of the Edo Police Command, DSP Eno Ikoedem, said diligent investigation led to the arrest of one Abdulsalam Mohammadu, who led operatives to the arrest of three other suspects, including Adetunji.
The suspects led police detectives to the spot where the body of Oghenekome was left to rot.
A police statement on the incident said: “On 4th February, 2026, two persons — Edafe Oghenekome ‘m’, aged 42 years, and one Favour Ighasa ‘f’ — were kidnapped from their residence at Utese Village, after Udo Community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.
“Subsequently, one of the victims, Favour Ighasa, regained her freedom on 9th February, 2026, while the abductors ceased communication regarding the release of Edafe Kome.
“In line with the firm directives of the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, fdc, that every kidnapping case must be thoroughly investigated to its logical conclusion, the command resiliently continued the comprehensive investigation earlier launched into the matter.
“The sustained investigative and operational efforts led to the arrest of one Abdulsalam Mohammadu ‘m’, aged 21yrs, who disclosed the involvement of additional gang members, including one Kehinde Adetunji ‘m’, aged 45, as the syndicate’s local pointer, who is an indigene living in the community, and Nasiru Yau ‘m’, aged 24yrs, as the one who brings them food in the bush.
“All suspects have been arrested and have confessed their involvement in the kidnapping/ransom collection and the murder of Edafe Oghenekome.
“Further investigations led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles with breach numbers 1686 and 2357.
“Three Dane guns were also recovered from them. Further diligent investigation led to the recovery of the remains of Edafe in Igueladidi forest of Iguobazuwa, where he was left to rot.”
