Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 40-year-old man, identified as Samson Ekata, over the alleged murder of his 18-year-old pregnant girlfriend.
The state Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, announced the arrest on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, while presenting the suspect and other individuals arrested in connection with various crimes across the state.
According to Daaor, the incident occurred in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The police commissioner alleged that Ekata killed the young woman, who was said to have been living with him for approximately one year.
He alleged that after killing the woman, the suspect mutilated her body, severed her breast and attempted to remove her unborn baby.
In an interview with newsmen, the suspect, who admitted killing the woman, said it was his first time killing anyone.
Ekata, who also admitted that the victim had been living with him, claimed that he committed the crime under spiritual influence.
According to him, “I began hearing voices instructing me to kill her, but I initially resisted because she was pregnant.
“The same instruction came to me in a dream about two weeks later, prompting me to commit the crime.
“After killing her, I severed her breast as the spirit instructed me to do so,” he said.
He also disclosed that he dumped her body by the roadside after transporting it there in a Toyota Corolla.
He, however, denied involvement in any other killings, maintaining that he had never killed anyone before the incident.
Speaking further, the Commissioner of Police described the incident as a horrific crime and expressed sadness over the killing of the pregnant woman.
He commended members of the community for their cooperation with the police, noting that their assistance was instrumental in the suspect’s arrest.
Daaor assured the public that the suspect would face the full weight of the law.
He also urged members of the public to continue providing useful information to security agencies to help combat crime across the state.
He advised parents to pay closer attention to the safety of their children, particularly girls, warning that sexual predators and other dangerous individuals could exploit their vulnerability.
Daaor also warned young women to exercise caution in their relationships and avoid placing their trust in people without considering their safety.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting residents of Edo State and called for continued collaboration between the public and security agencies to reduce crime.