…One suspect in police net
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Suspected ritualists have beheaded a 43-year-old fashion designer, Lawrence Edobor, at Evbuotubu community in Benin, throwing the community into a deep shock.
The incident reportedly happened around 2 am on Friday as the deceased was said to be returning home from a burial ceremony he attended Thursday evening before he was murdered and beheaded.
A resident of the community, who craved anonymity, said the deceased was a well known fashion designer who owned a shop in Eweka within the community.
“According to what I heard, the deceased attended a funeral ceremony earlier that night. As he walked home around 2 am, he was ambushed by a group of persons suspected to be ritualists. They attacked and killed him, severing his head from his body.
“The suspects then fled the scene, leaving the headless body on the road. While they were trying to escape, a team of Edo State Security Corps intercepted them and one of the suspects was caught with the head.
“During interrogation, the suspect abandoned the head and tried to escape again but was eventually apprehended”, the source narrated.
Spokesman of the Edo State Police command, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday, said one of the suspects, Uwadiae Airebiuwa, 27, of Igbinudu Street, Evbuotubu Quarters, has been arrested in connection with the murder, adding that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.
The statement reads: “On 07/03/2025 at approximately 03:00hrs, Operatives of Evbuotubu Division alongside vigilante members, while on patrol of the area, intercepted and arrested one Uwadiae Airebiuwa, 27yrs, of Igbinudu Street, Evbuotubu Quarters, in possession of a fresh human head contained in a polythene bag.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect took them to a decapitated body of a man along the road near Eweka Shopping Plaza.
“The deceased, later identified by a family member as Edobor Lawrence, of 1 Osagie Street, Evbuotubu Quarters, was evacuated to the hospital for preservation while investigation continues.”
While condoling with the family of the deceased, the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, assured that the command would not rest until those involved in the heinous crime were brought to book.
She further advised young ones to seek legitimate means of making money rather than venturing into crime.