“Edo State police have arrested a 49-year-old man for allegedly killing his 15-year-old son and secretly burying him in their family compound in Igueben LGA. Authorities say investigations are ongoing.”
A 49-year-old man from Edo State, whose identity has been withheld, has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing his 15-year-old son and secretly burying his remains within their family compound.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Edo State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Benin City
The disturbing incident occurred in Uhe community, Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to the statement, the suspect was arrested following credible intelligence received by the police on December 6. Acting on the information, operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer visited the suspect’s residence, where the report was confirmed.
Ikoedem explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly assaulted the teenager with a stick on December 5 at about 7:00 p.m., an attack which reportedly led to the boy’s death.
“The suspect allegedly dug a grave within the family compound and secretly buried the corpse,” she said.
She added that critical information provided by the deceased’s grandmother—an 82-year-old woman and the suspect’s mother who resides in the same household—greatly aided the investigation.
The police spokesperson further stated that, following due administrative procedures, officers exhumed the grave, documented the scene with photographs, and recovered the stick allegedly used in committing the offence as an exhibit.
She noted that the suspect has been taken into custody, while investigations are ongoing to fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Ikoedem disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, has ordered the transfer of the case to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation and prosecution.
She added that the Commissioner warned against all forms of violence and urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
“The command remains committed to protecting lives and enforcing the rule of law,” she said.
(NAN)