By peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 31-year-old man, Joshua Osaigbovo, in connection with the alleged murder of a 21-year-old woman, Osato Festus Edogiaweria, whose decomposing body was exhumed from a shallow grave near the suspect’s residence in Benin City.
Spokesperson for the command, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday, June 20, 2025.
According to Yamu, the tragic discovery followed weeks of intense investigation and technical intelligence gathering by operatives of the Family Unit of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID).
The case began on April 25, 2025, when Mrs. Ojo, the mother of the deceased, filed a missing person report at the Aduwawa Police Division. She reported that her daughter, Osato, had left home on April 20 with a friend and never returned.
The case was later transferred to the SCID for further investigation.
“Demonstrating the Command’s resolve to rid the state of all forms of crime and criminality, operatives of the Family Unit, through painstaking investigation and technical intelligence, arrested one Joshua Osaigbovo, 31 years, a resident of Iyanomon community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, in connection with the crime on June 18, 2025,” Yamu stated.
During interrogation, Osaigbovo reportedly confessed that Osato had visited his residence on April 27. An altercation ensued between them, during which she fell, hit her head on the floor, and died. Rather than report the incident, he allegedly transported her body in a wheelbarrow to a nearby bush, where he buried her in a shallow grave a few meters from his home.
On June 20, the suspect led investigators to the grave site in the Iyanomon community, where the decomposed remains of the young woman were exhumed under police supervision.
Yamu added that Osato’s mobile phone was recovered from the suspect during the investigation.
The suspect is currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Edo State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice is served and warned against acts of violence, assuring residents that all necessary steps are being taken to combat crime in the state.
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