Police foil secret burial of murder victim, arrest three in Ogun

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have foiled an alleged attempt to secretly bury a murder victim and arrested three suspects in the Akute area of Ogun State.

The suspects — Maureen Okirie, 35; Salia Karikari, 15; and Jubril Karikari, 12 — were apprehended by detectives from the Ajuwon Division following a tip-off about suspicious activities within the community.

Police said the arrest was made at about 11:15 a.m. on Thursday when officers stormed the scene and caught one of the suspects attempting to bury a blood-soaked corpse in a shallow grave, in what authorities described as an effort to conceal a crime.

The victim, identified as Stanley Okirie, 38, was found with severe head injuries. Preliminary investigations revealed that he was allegedly attacked with a wooden pestle, while other suspects, believed to be relatives, were said to have conspired in both the killing and the attempted cover-up.

The suspected murder weapon has been recovered, while the remains of the deceased have been deposited at Life Channel Mortuary in Olambe for autopsy.

Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, described the act as “cruel, inhumane, and deeply disturbing,” noting the involvement of close family members.

He warned that violent crimes and attempts to conceal them would not be tolerated, assuring that the command would conduct a thorough and transparent investigation.

Ojajuni added that the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and prosecution.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly, reaffirming the police’s commitment to protecting lives and property.