Man arrested for ‘beheading girlfriend’ in Bayelsa

The police command in Bayelsa has confirmed the arrest of a middle aged man who allegedly beheaded his girlfriend in the state.

The man, identified as Tony, reportedly beheaded Ebibraaladei Maxwell, his girlfriend, in Sagbama LGA of the state.

Musa Mohammed, the command’s spokesperson, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday.

He said the suspect was about to flee the scene of the incident, but was restrained by neigbours, and subsequently handed to the police.

The police also confirmed that the suspect and the victim were an unmarried couple who lived together.

Mohammed added that officers of the command have evacuated the remains of the victim and deposited same at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.

“The Divisional Police Officer of Sagbama Division got the report and dispatched officers to the crime scene who found out that the suspect had been apprehended by community youths,” the police said.

“The suspect is being interrogated and will soon be charged to court while the remains of the deceased have been evacuated to the mortuary at Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.”

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, deputy governor of the state, has called for calm over the incident.

In a statement by Doubara Atasi, his media aide, Ewhrudjakpo cautioned the Kabeama and Amatolo communities where the deceased and the boyfriend hail from, to desist from attacks.

He cautioned the girl’s community against reprisal, saying the government is taking appropriate measures to ensure justice for the deceased and her family.

“Security agencies have since swung into action in line with government directives on the matter,” he said.

A few years ago, the police arrested one Sunday Ojo, a suspected ritualist, who allegedly attempted to slit the throat of one Deborah Emafidon, his undergraduate lover, in Bayelsa.

At the time, the police spokesperson said Ojo lured the lady, who is a student of Niger Delta University (NDU), to a nearby bush and allegedly attempted to kill her for ritual purposes.