A horrifying tragedy has rocked the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State after a 26-year-old man, identified simply as Daniel, allegedly murdered and beheaded his 15-year-old brother, Emmanuel, in a suspected ritual killing.
Both siblings were sons of a senior police officer stationed in the community. The incident, which occurred on Monday evening near the secluded banks of the Origbara River, has left residents stunned and grief-stricken.
According to eyewitnesses, Daniel reportedly lured his younger brother to the riverside under false pretenses before committing the gruesome act. A local resident, Roland Akinkunmi, recounted that someone attempting to cross the river spotted Daniel trying to hide a human head in a black bag and raised the alarm.
“I was at the palace when I heard shouting near the river. When I got there, Daniel was holding a severed head. I couldn’t believe it was Emmanuel’s it was terrifying,” Akinkunmi said.
He added that the brothers had quarreled earlier that day, though the nature of the disagreement remains unclear. Locals, however, believe the motive points to ritual purposes rather than a simple dispute.
“This community has no tolerance for bloodshed, especially when it’s ritual-related. We are completely shaken,” he added.
Enraged by the discovery, a mob of local youths reportedly took the law into their own hands and lynched Daniel before authorities could intervene.
The family, though not originally from the area, had lived peacefully in the town until the incident. Now, the entire community is grappling with the sheer brutality of the crime and the shocking turn of events.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, stated that Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has ordered a full-scale investigation to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
