Man kills neighbour's son, demands N5m ransom

The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday paraded one Patrick Onyeka for allegedly kidnapping and killing a seven-year-old boy, Ayuba.
Onyeka was Ayuba’s parents’ neighbour at Mumako Estate, Ikotun, Lagos State.
Onyeka allegedly lured the boy into his apartment while the boy was playing football on January 12, 2013, then went on to strangle him to death.
Onyeka then dumped the corpse in the septic tank of an uncompleted building about 200 metres away.
Onyeka’s evil act did not however end there.
He went on to demand N5 million from Ayuba’s parents and pasted a phone number on the gate of the deceased parents’ house for them to contact him with.
Onyeka was exposed when his elder brother became suspicious and reported him to the police.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, while parading the suspect said: “While neighbours thronged the home of Ayuba’s parents to sympathise with them over Auba’s sudden disappearance, Onyeka also came to visit, ostensibly to offer his sympathies.
“No one thought he could be connected to the kidnap until Onyeka wrote a note to Ayuba’s parents, which he pasted on their gate, demanding N5 million as ransom for Ayuba.
“He also added a phone number by which he could be reached.
“Although the handwriting was unrecognizable to all the neighbours and the victim’s parents, Onyeka’s elder brother recognized it.
“He became suspicious of his brother’s activities and subsequently reported his fears to the Ikotun Police Division.”
Braide added that the police subsequently arrested Onyeka and the case was transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja where Onyeka confessed to the crime and took the SARS operatives to the spot he buried the boy.
When asked why he killed the lad, Onyeka blamed jealousy and the devil for his crime.
He said: “I don’t know what led me to commit this crime and I have no idea what Ayuba’s parents do for a living but I felt they were rich because they had about four cars.
“I had to kill the boy because he knew me and if I had let him go, he would have told everyone in the neighbourhood that I was the person who kidnapped him but I never collected any ransom from the parents.
“I changed my mind about it.”
Braide added: “The body of the victim has been deposited at the Isolo General hospital for autopsy.
“Investigations have already been concluded and the suspect would be charged to court for murder.”