A 45-year -old hunter, Kehinde Adetunji, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly selling his farmer friend, Edafe Oghenekome, to kidnappers who collected N45 million ransom.
Oghenekome was reportedly shot dead and left to rot in the bush after he recognised his friend while sharing ransom with his abductors.
It was gathered that Adetunji who carried out his hunting business at Utese Village ,Ovia Southwest Local Government, Edo State, had struck a friendship with late Oghenekome, a pineapple farmer.
He ws alleged to have informed some herders in the bush that Oghenekome recently sold pineapple worth millions of naira, resulting in abduction of Oghenekome and his sister, Favour, last month.
The kidnappers were said to have released Favour but stopped communication about Oghenekome after collecting ransom.
Confirming the incident, Edo state police public relations officer, DSP Eno Ikoedem, said diligent investigation led to arrest of one Abdulsalam Mohammadu, who 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.
A police statement on the incident said “On February 4, 2026, two persons: Edafe Oghenekome, 42 , and one Favor Ighasa were kidnapped from their residence at Utese Village, after Udo Community, Ovia South-West Local Government of the state. Subsequently, one of the victims, Favor Ighasa, regained her freedom on February 9, 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, that every kidnapping case must be thoroughly investigated to its logical conclusion, the Command resiliently continued the comprehensive investigation earlier launched into the matter.
“The sustained investigative and operational efforts led to the arrest of one Abdulsalam Mohammadu 21, who disclosed the involvement of additional gang members, including one Kehinde Adetunji ,45,as the syndicate’s local pointer, who is an indigene living in the community and Nasiru Yau, 24, as the one who was bringing them food in the bush.
“The 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, Iguobazuwa, where he was left to rot away .”
