A man in Ondo State has been arrested for allegedly killing his 14-year-old son over claims that the boy engaged in criminal activities, which the father felt brought shame to the family.
The suspect, Elela Monday, a 34-year-old bricklayer and father of seven, confessed to the crime, stating that he killed his son and buried him in a shallow grave due to the embarrassment caused by the boy’s alleged involvement in theft and housebreaking.
The tragic incident took place in Ajowa Akoko, within the Akoko North-West Local Government Area.
The Ondo State Police Command reported that on December 30, they received an anonymous tip-off regarding the murder. State Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi, revealed that the victim was named Tope Elela and that he had been buried under a banana tree behind their home.
During a press conference on January 12, 2025, CP Afolabi stated that the father confessed during interrogation that he and his wife decided to take drastic action to end their son’s disruptive behavior, which they believed was causing them shame.
Elela claimed that he only intended to discipline his son and did not mean to kill him. He recounted an incident where the boy had escaped from the State Security Network, known as Amotekun, and suggested he typically turned his son over to Amotekun or local vigilante groups for punishment when caught stealing.
Following the boy’s death, Elela’s wife and other children fled upon learning of his arrest. Elela explained that after beating Tope for his misdeeds, they went to bed, only to discover the next morning that he had died. He then decided to bury the boy beneath the banana tree.
