A 26-year-old man, Awaji Moses, from Benue State, has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for the brutal murder of his employer, 38-year-old Victor Ochei, over unpaid salaries.
The tragic incident occurred on June 22, 2025, when the suspect, who had reportedly worked for the deceased for over a year, attacked and killed him with a pestle in a forest while they were on their way to purchase palm fruits.
While being paraded by the police, Moses confessed to the crime, stating that his employer had not paid him his agreed wages for almost seven months, only giving him N500 daily for feeding. He claimed to have initially quit the job due to non-payment but was persuaded by the victim to return, with promises of settling his outstanding wages.
According to the suspect, despite resuming work, the salary was still withheld. On the day of the incident, the duo rode into the forest on a motorcycle—Ochei riding while Moses sat behind. The suspect recounted that once they reached a secluded area, he picked up a pestle, usually used for pounding palm fruits, and struck his boss twice on the neck, killing him instantly.
After committing the act, he fled with the victim’s mobile phone and later contacted Ochei’s relatives, falsely claiming that he had been kidnapped and demanding a N10 million ransom. The victim’s sister, believing the story, transferred N300,000 to an Opay account provided by the suspect.
However, suspicion arose when Moses also went missing. He was eventually tracked down, and upon his arrest, the victim’s phone was recovered in his possession.
Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The incident has sparked widespread shock and condemnation, with many calling for greater employer accountability and improved conflict resolution mechanisms to avoid such avoidable tragedies.
