A 34-year-old father of seven, Monday Elela, has been apprehended by the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly killing and secretly burying his 14-year-old son, Tope Elela, in a shallow grave. The incident occurred in the Ajowa Akoko area of Ondo State. According to the police, the father reportedly acted out of frustration over his son’s alleged persistent stealing.
While being paraded at the state police headquarters in Akure, Mr. Elela, a bricklayer and farmer, admitted to disciplining his son but denied being responsible for his death. He claimed his actions were an attempt to correct the boy’s behavior, which had become a source of embarrassment to the family.
Mr. Elela explained that his son, Tope, had been notorious in their neighborhood for breaking into houses and had been arrested multiple times by the police and Amotekun Corps. The father recounted how Tope recently escaped from Amotekun custody, where he had been detained for theft.
He said, “We found him after he escaped from the Amotekun cell and brought him home. We only spanked him lightly with our hands for his wrongdoings. He later ate, bathed, and went to bed. It was the next morning that we discovered he had passed away. We didn’t kill him.”
Mr. Elela revealed that, fearing repercussions, he and his wife, who is currently on the run, buried the boy’s body in their backyard.
Commissioner of Police Wilfred Afolabi confirmed the arrest and assured that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the boy’s death. The authorities are also making efforts to apprehend Mr. Elela’s wife for her alleged involvement in the incident.
In a related development, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested suspects linked to last week’s violent cult clashes in Owo. Among those detained are 30-year-olds Adeola Bero and Olabode Ojo, also known as “Popo.”
Commissioner Afolabi revealed that the suspects, members of the Aye cult group, confessed to their involvement in the conflict with the rival Eiye group. “They admitted to fleeing Owo to avoid being caught in the ongoing violence,” he said.
The police assured residents of heightened efforts to curb cult-related activities and restore peace to the area.
