Alltimepost.com exclusively gathered that the suspect, Obas Idehen was detained after he had, in company of his lawyer, turned himself in on Thursday following intensified close marking by police investigators handling the murder case.
When our reporter visited the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Benin City about 3: pm on Thursday, the suspect was seen giving his statement before the leader of the investigation team, one Sgt. Wale Ogundele.
A dependable source at the police command headquarters told Alltimepost.com that the suspect reportedly collected money for six bags of cement from one Uyiosa Uhunmwango, but only supplied four bags to his building site, a development that indirectly led to the killing of the bricklayer.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer for Edo Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said one Collins alleged to have shot and killed the bricklayer is still on the run as operatives had intensified a manhunt for him.
It would be recalled that a bricklayer was reportedly shot dead over two bags of cement in Benin City.
The victim, identified as Onorode Uteh, 37, from Delta State was allegedly killed by a relative of the cement seller, whose store is located at 29, Okhoromi-Egbiri road Benin City at about 6: pm on Friday April 20, 2018.
The two bags of cement worth N5, 300.00 were among six bags of the product earlier paid for by his employer, but were not supplied along with others to the work site by the seller on that fateful day.
The late Onorode Uteh and his employer, Mr. Uyiosa Uhunmwango first went to the cement shop to enquire why the six bags earlier paid for were not supplied completely, but when they got there the store was already closed for the day.
As a result, they decided to go to the cement seller’s residence, popularly known as ‘White house,’ located at Okhoromi Community, Ward 2 Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State for the same purpose and to make arrangements for the remaining two bags to be picked up the following morning by the bricklayer.
According to Uhumwangho, a graduate of Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State, who witnessed the alleged murder by one Collins, now on the run, trouble started immediately they entered the compound.
Collins was said to have accused him of opening the gate without knocking and a mere argument ensued between them. Following the argument, Collins reportedly locked the gate with padlock, preventing them from going out and subsequently raced back to the house where he allegedly pulled out a double barrel gun.
“He pointed the gun at me, I heard a shot. The bricklayer that was standing beside me shouted and held his chest as he went down slowly. I saw blood gushing out, Collins brought out another cartridge from his pocket, reloaded the gun and continued threatening to kill me as he worked me out of the compound at gunpoint,” Uhunmwangho narrated.
It was also gathered that the alleged killer, Collins is a relative of the cement business owner, said to be based in Canada.
The cement depot was deserted when our reporter visited on Wednesday April 25, 2018.
Uncle of the deceased, Mr. Clarke Oghevobo has called on the police, Edo State government and relevant security agencies to ensure justice is served in the brutal murder.
