Contractor Arrested for Killing Elderly Client, Collecting N2m Ransom in Delta
The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a 32-year-old contractor, Alex Kehinde, over the alleged abduction and killing of an elderly property owner who had hired him for renovation work, before using the victim’s identity to extort ransom from his family.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Edafe Bright, the suspect confessed that the initial plan was to kidnap the victim and demand ransom to resolve financial issues, including claims that the deceased owed them money.
The victim, said to be in his late 70s, had engaged Kehinde to refurbish his property in preparation for new tenants. What started as a routine contract, however, reportedly escalated into a deadly plot following disagreements over payments and the pace of work.
Police said the victim had already paid an initial sum of N200,000, but tensions grew after he allegedly pushed for more workers to speed up the project. While other labourers were reportedly paid, Kehinde and his accomplices—who are still on the run—claimed they were not compensated, leading to the kidnapping plan.
During a site visit, the suspects allegedly lured the elderly man to the upper floor of the building under the pretext of showing him a plumbing issue. There, he was overpowered and suffocated after attempting to raise an alarm. The suspects reportedly abandoned him without seeking medical help.
After the incident, the perpetrators stole the victim’s motorcycle and phone, using his SIM card to contact his family. Unaware of his death, the family paid a ransom of N2 million.
Kehinde was later arrested in Lagos following an intelligence-led operation. He reportedly admitted to the crime and disclosed that the ransom was shared equally between him and his accomplice, adding that he had already spent his portion.
The police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects. SP Edafe also advised the public to exercise caution when dealing with unfamiliar individuals, especially in business transactions, assuring that justice will be served.
