By Didimoko A. Didimoko
A 45-year-old pastor, Ijebor Simon, and his alleged accomplice, 23-year-old Destiny Okojabhole, have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command in connection with the alleged of a seven-year-old boy.
The child, identified as Evans Okojabhole, had earlier been declared missing before his dismembered remains were discovered close to his distraught father’s house in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects’ arrest followed the complaint to the police by the victim’s father, John Ojabhole.
The Edo State Police Command PRO, Moses Yamu, said the late Evans was sighted with his stomach ripped open, his feet severed from his ankle, and some fingers cut off and dumped in the bush close to their house 24 hours after he was reported missing.
The statement read, “The Command received a case of murder reported by one John Okhojibole of the Jehovah Witness Road, off Elebesunu Street in Irrua.
“The unfortunate incident was reported on the 22/02/2025 at about 13:45 hours, when the remains of his seven-year-old son, Evans Okojabhole, was sighted with his stomach ripped open, his feet from his ankle and some fingers cut off and dumped in the bush close to their house at the above-named address, 24 hours after he was reported missing.
“During preliminary investigations, two suspects, Pastor Ijebor Simon (45 years) and Destiny Okojabhole (23 years), have been arrested by operatives of Irrua Divisional Headquarters and transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department Benin City for further investigation.”