The Kogi State police command has arrested a 17-year-old boy, Goodness Oshodi, for allegedly burying his younger brother, Friday Oshodi, alive in Kogi State.

The incident was said to have happened on Tuesday, at Apamisede, a suburb of Lokoja. 

Mr Friday was said to have stolen N1,000, hence his elder brother decided to punish him on their mother’s instruction.

Mr Friday, according to residents, has a renowned history in the area for stealing, adding that, to punish his criminal act, his mother asked his elder brother, Mr Goodness, to punish him.

They, however, disclosed that rather than giving Mr Friday, who is said to be his stepbrother, tolerable punishment, Mr Goodness led him to a nearby bush and buried him alive.

Mr Friday was, however, lucky to be found alive as Goodness was caught in the heinous crime by some vigilante members in the area who exhumed his body alive and reported the case to the police.

The state police public relations officer (PPRO), SP. William Ovie Aya, confirmed the incident and the arrest of Mr Goodness on Wednesday afternoon.

The police spokesperson said Mr Goodness had been arrested and investigation had commenced into the case.

He said, “The suspect has been arrested and taken into custody. The victim is seven years old. Information at our disposal revealed that the victim used to steal. When he stole money, he ran away from the house, but later came back.

“When he came back, he stole another money again. So, the mother instructed his elder brother who is a 17-year-old boy to punish him. So, the brother went ahead to dig the ground to punish him. So, they just want to deal with him, before some nearby neighbours discovered what was happening and rescued him,” he said.