A Nigerian, who is a 27-year-old Indian hemp farmer, Owalum Benedict Ochin, has kept in prison for beheading his friend and roommate identified as Ekon after an argument over ingredients to put in a soup at their home in Jungle forest, Ipele in Ondo State.
The incident which occurred on November 29 has made the magistrate court in the state to remand him.
The Nation reported that Benedict who hails from Calabar relocated to Ondo State in search of a job and was introduced to Blessing Opor and others who cultivated Indian hemp.
Benedict told the court
”I killed my friend, Ekon because he provoked me. We were cooking soup and he went to pluck a leaf he knew would upset my stomach and put it inside the soup.
The defendant reportedly told investigators that he used to have stomach upset anytime he consumed the leaf. He said the both of them went for their cutlasses and began to fight with them which made them sustain injuries but he had the upper hand and was able to hack his friend all over his body before he made the last stroke at the head.
He told the prosecuting team that he packed the head inside one bag and hid it inside the bush so that his crime would not be discovered.
On why he attacked Blessing, Benedict said he was angry after killing his friend and remembered that Blessing owed him some money. He said it was the alarm by Blessing that attracted others to the scene and he was arrested.
Benedict was arraigned on a two-count charge of “murder and attempted murder”.
The case was adjourned to January 21, 2021, for a hearing.
