A 30-year-old man has allegedly beheaded his friend for money ritual and to cover up his N30 million debt. Authorities in Delta Police Command accuse Efe Onoetiyi of murdering his best friend, Paulinus Okon. They say the case involves money, deception, and occult practices.
The police say Onoetiyi killed Okon after duping him out of over N30 million. The money was initially meant for a house purchase but was instead used for personal gains.
Onoetiyi allegedly told the police that he saw a building for sale at N30 million. He then advertised to the deceased who paid N30 million in three instalments. But instead of buying the house, Onoetiyi diverted the money for his personal use. He bought two plots of land and started building a duplex for himself.
Delta CP Abaniwonda Olufemi says the chilling story began on September 8, 2024, when Okon was reported missing. His brother alerted authorities after Okon went out with his close friend, Onoetiyi. At first, Onoetiyi denied knowing anything about his friend’s disappearance. Later, he visited Okon’s family, pretending to help search for him.
In a bizarre turn of events, Onoetiyi demanded N500,000 from Okon’s family. He reportedly claimed it would pay a herbalist who could help find the missing man. But things took an even darker twist when he claimed later that Okon had been kidnapped. He managed to collect N20.7 million in ransom, pretending he will pay the supposed kidnappers. However, the lies soon began to unravel.
Money ritual and dark confessions about money ritual
On further investigation, authorities say they discovered a disturbing connection. Okeimute Gaga, a 48-year-old man, confessed under interrogation that Onoetiyi orchestrated Okon’s murder. Gaga revealed that, on the night of the disappearance, Onoetiyi and two other accomplices, Sunday Ikpeba and Lawrence Joseph (a local herbalist), took Okon to a remote location near the Orere River in Otokutu.
There, the victim was bound to a stake and gruesomely beheaded. The herbalist took the head, burying it at his shrine as part of what they described as a “money ritual.” The body was discarded in the river. Medialord.ng learnt the police were led to the shrine in Otokutu, where they allegedly recovered Okon’s skull.
In Onoetiyi’s confession, he admitted that the motive for murder was rooted in financial desperation. He swindled Okom of his money, spending it on personal luxuries instead. The suspect allegedly said he fdecided that killing Okon would “solve everything.”
A sociologist, Chijioke Okoro, believes this is a result of deep-rooted issues in society. “In our communities, there’s growing pressure on young people to amass wealth at any cost. The idea of money ritual is often glamorized by myths surrounding quick riches and success,” he said.
However, Jackson Eneh, a pychologist, pointed out that Onoetiyi’s actions indicate a severe lack of empathy and an inability to cope with financial guilt. “People who commit such heinous crimes often display emotional and psychological deficiencies, and in some cases, narcissism. It’s a tragic example of how desperation can turn to violence.”
Experts on caution on rise of money rituals
Although a safety expert, Ita Benson, said this is more of a security concern, he cautions that “we need to be conscious and sensitive of the calibre of people we associate with. “Most of these killings are associated with societal, peer influence and gangsterism. However, it’s a morale obligation in safety to ensure your own safety and the safety of others. We have so many idle hands among the youths of Nigeria hence, they are easily lured into this type of act,” he added.
Security experts also expressed concern over the danger such crimes pose to the public. Comrade Uche Nwosu, a security analyst, says that money rituals are becoming more prevalent. “The desperation to make quick money, often through occult means, is a sign of societal decay. We need stricter laws to curb these practices and ensure greater vigilance,” Nwosu said.
Also, a private security consultant, Deborah Adebayo, observed that the increasing number of ritualistic killings tied to financial schemes. “This isn’t just about crime. It’s about criminal minds exploiting age-old superstitions for personal gain,” she said.
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