Tension gripped the agrarian community of Odigbo in Ondo State on Monday evening, following the brutal killing of a 15-year-old boy, Emmanuel, by his elder brother, Daniel.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the incident occurred after Daniel, a 26-year-old, allegedly lured his younger brother to the bank of the isolated Origbara River, where he beheaded him.
The peaceful community was thrown into panic as residents expressed shock and dismay at the horrifying incident.
A source told LEADERSHIP that the siblings, sons of a well-respected local police officer, were initially seen in a playful mood on their way to the river.
A resident of the area, Roland Akinkunmi, disclosed that an indigene crossing the river raised an alarm upon seeing Daniel trying to conceal the severed head in a bag.
While expressing disbelief at such a heinous act in the community, Akinkunmi emphasised the rarity of such incidents, especially involving someone from a respected family.
He said, “There were reports of earlier sibling quarrels, but the motive remains unclear. In this community, any shedding of human blood, particularly for ritual purposes, is never tolerated and is usually exposed quickly.”
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo State Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.
According to the PPRO, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a discreet inquiry.
He, however, assured the public that all efforts would be made to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the tragic killing.
