11th August, 2017
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Operatives of Edo Police Command have arrested a farmer, Moses Erutuye, for allegedly killing a man simply identified as Jonathan, for allegedly stealing his plantain.
The incident occurred at Odighi village, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the State.
Moses, who was paraded alongside 43 other suspects at the Command headquarters in Benin City, said the deceased had been stealing from him since 2007.
The suspect, who confessed to killing Jonathan, said he killed his victim by hitting him with a stick.
“I started the farm in 1998. In 2007, while waiting for the plantain to mature, somebody went there and stole 60 bunches. I complained and was told nobody will guard my farm for me.
“Since then, I have been monitoring the farm. Luck ran against him this 2017, when he stole 35 bunches.
“I traced him to where he wanted to sell them. He said the plantain was not mine. He stole seven bunch from my farm. I asked him to go and show me where he got others.
“On our way, he stopped. The wood he used to hold his bike, I took it and hit him on the head and he died. His family was looking for him. They came to me and I told them I left him to go but I later took them to where the body was. I want government to forgive me,” he confessed.
The State Police Commissioner, Haliru Gwandu, said the suspect would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.