Crime
Ogun Murder: Suspect Confesses to Strangling, Machete Attack on Retired Woman Over ₦3.45m Dispute
A disturbing murder case has emerged in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following the arrest of a 49-year-old transporter, Saburi Lateef, popularly known as Alhaji Oki Osan, over the killing of a retired government worker, Mrs Adedotun Oluwaseun.
The deceased, a former confidential secretary with the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, was allegedly strangled and repeatedly attacked with a machete inside her residence in the Bode Olude community.
According to the Ogun State Police Command, the 61-year-old woman was found dead on February 28, 2026, after she failed to respond to calls from family members.
The suspect was arrested on October 19 following months of investigation by detectives attached to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department.
During interrogation, Lateef allegedly claimed that the murder resulted from a financial disagreement involving ₦3.45 million, which he said represented the remaining proceeds from the sale of his truck.
He alleged that he had entrusted the money to the deceased after she promised to give him a loan to purchase another vehicle. However, according to his account, repeated attempts to recover the money or obtain the promised loan proved unsuccessful, leaving him frustrated.
The suspect reportedly admitted that he gained access to the woman’s residence by removing a burglary-proof section of a window while she was away.
He further claimed that upon her return, an argument ensued, during which he strangled her before using a machete to inflict multiple injuries on her body.
He also admitted to consuming alcohol before the incident. However, these claims remain subject to further police investigation and legal proceedings.
In an even more disturbing development, the suspect reportedly returned to the deceased’s residence after her death and joined other visitors in mourning with her family.
However, the victim’s eldest daughter, Taiwo Atanda, said the family did not know Lateef and had never seen him with their mother before the murder.
She explained that the first time she personally encountered him was after her mother’s death, when he reportedly appeared among the mourners.
According to her, the family became concerned when their mother failed to make her usual morning calls. After several unsuccessful attempts to reach her, they contacted a neighbour to check on her.
The neighbour and another resident subsequently discovered her body in the toilet area of her home, bearing multiple machete wounds.
The daughter also challenged the suspect’s account of the financial arrangement, insisting that her mother had never informed the family that she was keeping millions of naira on his behalf.
The deceased’s family has called on the Ogun State Government and the police to ensure that justice is served and that every aspect of the murder is thoroughly investigated.
The Ogun State Police Command, through its spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the breakthrough and commended officers for their persistence and professionalism.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olubode Ojajuni, also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to investigating serious crimes and ensuring that offenders face the law.
The suspect is expected to be charged in court after the conclusion of the investigation.
The case has raised serious concerns about personal safety, unresolved financial disagreements and the need to settle disputes through lawful means rather than resorting to violence.