EDO STATE: Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The suspected killers of one Smart Nwashiri, 29, have said that they decided to kill the deceased fellow and buried him in a shallow grave after collecting the sum of N200,000 from him because he knew them.
The suspects are Goodluck Ojieh, 37, (gang leader), Lucky Enagbonmien, 37, Victory Okoro, 32, Sunday Ernest, 32, and Daniel Udi, 29.
The suspects disclosed this when they were paraded by the Edo State Police Command.
Shedding more light on the activities of the murderers, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye said the suspects committed the crime in Ologbo community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, near Benin City.
The commissioner told newsmen that the suspects, who hail from Delta State but reside in Edo State, lured the victim into their hideout on the pretence of selling vehicle parts to him.
He said the suspects were tracked and arrested in Delta State after a high-driven investigation.
“The victim was lured on June 17, 2024, by the gang leader to a location at the Ologbo area where the other gang members were waiting, on the pretext that they wanted to sell a vehicle catalyst (aka “Indomie”) to him.
“The victim has been a serial receiver of this item and other stolen items from the suspects,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police said the suspects conspired, kidnapped the victim, and demanded a ransom of N1 million but ended up collecting N200,000 before using a dagger to kill him.
He pointed out that they later buried the victim in a shallow grave, in a bid to cover their crime.
Adegboye said the corpse and motorcycle of the murdered victim have been recovered.
He added that the suspects have confessed to the crime, noting that they would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.