Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 45-year old hunter, Kehinde Adetunji, for conspiring to kidnap and kill his farmer friend, Edafe Oghenekome, after collecting N 45 million ransom.
Oghenekome was shot dead and left to rot in the bush after he recognized his friend while sharing ransom with his abductors.
Adetunji plied his hunting business at Utese Village, Ovia Southwest local government area of Edo State and struck a friendship with late Oghenekome, a pineapple farmer.
He informed some herders in the bush that Oghenekome recently sold pineapple worth millions of naira and kidnappers abducted Oghenekome and his sister last month.
The kidnappers released Favour but stopped communication about Oghenekome after collecting ransom money.
Edo Police Command spokesman, DSP Eno Ikoedem, said diligent investigation led to arrest of one Abdulsalam Mohammadu.
Ikoedem said it was Mohammadu that led operatives to the arrest of other three suspects including Adetunji.
They led Police detectives to the spot where the body of Oghenekome was left to rot away.
The report indicated that on 4th February, 2026, two persons — Edafe Oghenekome ‘m’, aged 42 years, and one Favor 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, Favor 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.
According to her, “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. While further diligent investigation led to the recovery of the remains of Edafe in Igueladidi forest of Iguobazuwa, where he was left to rot.”
