By John Moses
A 56-year-old farmer in southern Nigeria has been gruesomely murdered and buried in a shallow grave by five of his own employees, shortly after making a large produce sale, according to police.
Henry Oyagbomwan, a well-known pineapple grower in Igueze village, Ovia Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State, was killed on 13 May 2025, authorities confirmed. The suspects allegedly murdered him after he sold pineapples worth ₦900,000 (approximately £470), then absconded with the proceeds.
Investigators said the attackers initially attempted to disguise the crime as a kidnapping, contacting the victim’s family and demanding a ransom of ₦60 million. However, when the family insisted on speaking to Oyagbomwan before making any payment, the criminals lowered the ransom to ₦300,000 and disappeared after receiving it.
The Edo State Police’s anti-kidnapping unit launched a manhunt, eventually apprehending one of the suspects, Bassey Uyong Umeh, in a creek in Akwa Ibom State. Under questioning, Umeh confessed to the killing and led officers to the burial site, where the decomposing remains of the victim were exhumed.
Festus Oyagbomwan, the victim’s son, told local media that all efforts to trace the remaining suspects had so far been unsuccessful, as their mobile phones were switched off.
Police spokesperson Moses Yamu confirmed the investigation is ongoing, with efforts intensified to track and arrest the other suspects still at large.
