The Edo State Police Command has apprehended a Togolese national, Michael Agbalo, aged 35, on charges of allegedly murdering his coworker, Maharazu Umar, following a dispute at their workplace.
According to the state command’s spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, the incident came to light when a concerned citizen, Clement Obagbikoko, reported the gruesome event to the Etete Division in Benin City. Obagbikoko had employed the suspect to carry out construction work in his compound, and Agbalo had brought Umar to assist him with the project.
The unfortunate dispute reportedly erupted during their collaborative labor, resulting in the tragic death of Umar at the hands of Agbalo. After the completion of their work, suspicions arose when Umar’s whereabouts became uncertain. When Clement’s wife inspected the job site around 7 pm, she made the grisly discovery of Umar’s lifeless body within the compound.
SP Nwanbuzor recounted the sequence of events, stating, “We immediately summoned the suspect to the residence, where he was subsequently taken into custody.” The suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, admitting that he had used a hammer to inflict the fatal blow on Umar. The victim’s body has since been placed in the care of a local hospital.
The Edo State Police Command is poised to bring the suspect to justice, with plans to file charges against him in court in the near future.
In a candid interview with journalists, the suspect, Agbalo, explained the circumstances that led to the tragic altercation, saying, “After we completed our work, I requested that he wash the shovel, but he refused. This disagreement escalated, and we began quarreling. Fearing for my safety, as he brandished a cutlass, I struck him on the head with a hammer.” Agbalo expressed remorse over the fatal outcome, saying, “I deeply regret resorting to violence, which ultimately led to his death.”
