Edo Police arrest, man 32, for alleged killing of employer in his farm

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old, Bassey Nyong Uweh from Akwa lbom State for alleged kidnapping and killing of his employer in the state.

DAILY POST reports that the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Moses Yamu, confirmed this on Monday to newsmen in Benin City.

Yamu said the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command deployed technicalities to arrest the suspect in a creek at Eyo Abasi village in Oron, Akwa lbom State.

He said Bassey Nyong Uweh, a member of the five-man gang, allegedly kidnapped and killed one Henry Ohiengbomwan, 59, a farmer after collecting over N900,000 from the proceeds from the sales of pineapple harvested from his farm.

He said the incident happened in Igueze village on Benin-Lagos road in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the State.

The Command’s image maker, alleged that the suspect led operatives to the forest where the deceased was buried in a shallow grave.

He added that the suspect and four others now at large were employed by the deceased in his farm.

He said, the suspects, allegedly conspired to kidnap him after the deceased sold pineapple that they helped him to harvest.

Yamu, however, assured that investigation is on to arrest the four other suspects who are at large and bring them to justice.

DAILY POST, however, learnt that two of the suspects are from Akwa Ibom State while three others are from Nasarawa State.

A source close to the family, speaking with newsmen said the deceased, a farmer who resides in Benin has a large acres of pineapple, cocoa, melon and yam in his community.

He said the farmer engaged the service of the five labourers who work in his farm on a monthly salary.

“The deceased on May 13, 2025, went to his farm in company of his five workers to harvest pineapple and sold the produce for over N900,000.

“The labourers after the sale, kidnapped their employer in the forest, collected the N900,000, killed and buried him in a shallow grave.

“After the kidnapping, they reportedly called the deceased family, demanding a ransom of N60 million to effect his release but the family requested to speak with the deceased before paying ransom.

“The suspects reportedly demanded for N300,000 from them to have an audience with the deceased but didn’t allow them despite receiving the money paid by one of the deceased’s brothers.

“This development, however, made the family members suspect that the deceased wasn’t alive and reported the incident to the police.

“At the time of negotiating ransom with the suspects, the family of the deceased were not aware that they had already killed and buried him. the killers fled the community to evade arrest”, he said.