The police in Edo have arrested a 37-year-old apprentice who allegedly murdered his master after conspiring with four others to empty his bank account in Benin City, Edo State capital.

Goodluck Ojie reportedly lured his boss Smart Nwashiri, 39, a dealer in motor parts to their hideout in Ologbo community, near Benin where he was rounded up by other four of his accomplices.

Thereafter, the gang having successfully secured the custody of their victim, contacted his family demanding N1 million ransom for his release. However, N200,000 was transferred to his bank account which his captors swiftly withdrew using his ATM card through a POS operator.

After the five-man gang received N45,000.00 each totalling N225,000.00 cleared from their victim’s account, his boy, Goodluck Ojieh reportedly used his dagger to slit his master’s throat fearing that his master would implicate him if released.

The corpse was thereafter abandoned to rot in a bush at Ologbo Community until operatives of the Anti-kidnapping and Cyber Crimes Unit, Edo State Command headquarters, acting on a complaint arrested them at different locations in Delta State.

The Commissioner of Police, Edo State CP Funsho Adegboye paraded the five suspects before journalists in Benin City.

Adegboye gave the names of the suspects as Goodluck Ojieh, 39, (gang leader), Victory Okon, 37, Sunday Ernest, 32, Daniel Udi, 29 (all from Delta State), and Lucky Enagbonmien Godstime, 37, from Edo State.

“They were all involved in the kidnap and murder of one Smart Nwashiri despite collecting a ransom of N200,000.

“The victim was lured on June 17, 2024, by the gang leader, Goodluck Ojieh to a location at the Ologbo area where the other gang members were waiting, on the pretext that they were going to sell a vehicle catalyst to him. Vehicle exhaust catalysts are usually removed and sold by dubious mechanics.

“The victim has been a serial receiver of this item and other stolen items from the suspects, they will be charged to court”, he said.

Narrating their involvement, four of the suspects accused their gang leader Goodluck Ojieh of killing their victim with his dagger even when they advised him against it.

“I didn’t want him to implicate us, he taught me the catalyst business, na my Oga, he is our customer, na my knife I used to kill am”, the gang leader Goodluck Ojieh stated.

The incident has sent ripples through traders along the Benin bypass at Ahor Community where the victim’s shop is located, raising concerns about the vulnerability of financial dealings in apprentice-master relationships and the severe consequences of betrayal and greed.