A middle-aged school teacher identified as Edet Umoren was yesterday arrested by policemen after he allegedly beheaded the 10-year-old granddaughter of his proprietor, Precious Adedeji, in Ogun State.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday at Esugbon community, Itamerin near Ijebu-Ife in Ijebu East local government area of the state. Saturday Telegraph learnt that Umoren allegedly committed the crime barely a day after the slain granddaughter clocked 10 years.
The teacher was said to have been employed by the grandfather of the deceased, Pastor Joseph Olutoye, who owned Favour Nursery and Primary School, Esugbon. Sources said Umoren laid an ambush at a bush near the school and attacked Precious while she was on her way to buy biscuits during break-time. Another pupil in the school, Patricia, who accompanied Precious, reportedly escaped from the scene and ran through bush path to inform the school authorities.
By the time people rushed to the scene, the teacher had severed the head and right hand of the victim with a machete. It was gathered that the suspect left a note, which indicated that the school proprietor owed him January and February 2016 salaries, and then fled the scene.
Recounting his ordeal, with tears rolling down his eyes, Olutoye said he had wanted to sack Umoren, who until the incident was treasurer of his church. The proprietor alleged that the teacher stole over N250,000 belonging to the church but was still under investigation when he committed the crime. “Edet (Umoren) resumed on Thursday morning like every other of our staff and we discovered that he left around 10:00am, mot knowing he went to plan this evil,” he added.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, saying a team of policemen and vigilante operatives arrested the suspect about 5:00am yesterday. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the suspect would be prosecuted after the completion of investigation .
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, had ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command. He said: “On Thursday, at about 2 pm, one Pastor Joseph Olutoye of Ijebu- Imushin, owner of Favour Nursery and Primary School, Esugbon, reported one Edet Umoren, a teacher in the school for killing Precious Adedeji, aged 10 years with knife in a nearby bush around 11am.
