Police arrest man for gruesome murder of Edo-based fashion designer

Police arrest man for gruesome murder of Edo-based fashion designer

At around two in the morning on Friday, alleged ritualists murdered and beheaded fashion designer Lawrence Edobor in Evbuotubu, Benin City.

Prior to his murder and beheading, which shocked the town, the 43-year-old was reportedly returning home from a funeral he had attended on Thursday night. According to a local who asked to remain anonymous, the deceased was a well-known fashion designer who had a store in Eweka, Evbuotubu.

He said, “According to what I heard, the deceased attended a funeral ceremony earlier that night. As he walked home around 2am, he was ambushed by a group of persons suspected to be ritualists. They attacked and killed him, severing his head from his body.

“The suspects then fled the scene, leaving the headless body on the road. While they were trying to escape, a team of Edo State Security Corps intercepted them and one of the suspects was caught with the head.

“During interrogation, the suspect abandoned the head and tried to escape again but was eventually apprehended.”

In a statement released on Saturday, Moses Yamu, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, confirmed the event and the arrest of Uwadiae Airebiuwa, a 27-year-old suspect from Igbinudu Street in the Evbuotubu Quarters.

Fahion — **Police arrest man for gruesome murder of Edo-based fashion designer**

He mentioned that efforts were in progress to apprehend the rest of the gang.

Yamu said “On 07/03/2025 at approximately 03:00hrs, operatives of Evbuotubu Division alongside vigilante members, while on patrol of the area, intercepted and arrested one Uwadiae Airebiuwa, 27years, of Igbinudu Street, Evbuotubu Quarters, in possession of a fresh human head contained in a polythene bag.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect took them to a decapitated body of a man along the road near Eweka Shopping Plaza.

“The deceased, later identified by a family member as Edobor Lawrence, of 1 Osagie Street, Evbuotubu Quarters, was evacuated to the hospital for preservation while investigation continues.”

The commissioner of Police Betty Otimenyin expressed her condolences to the deceased’s family and reassured the public that the command would not relent until all those responsible for the horrible act were brought to book.