Residents of the Owatowose area in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have been plunged into mourning after an 18-year-old boy, Amos Timilehin Ariyo, was allegedly stabbed to death by a close friend.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 4 p.m. along a roadside in the neighbourhood, leaving many residents in shock.
Eyewitnesses said the victim was allegedly attacked by his friend, who stabbed him in the chest without any known provocation before fleeing the scene.
Sources within the victim’s family revealed that Amos had only recently recovered from a bout of illness and was heading from his mother’s residence to her nearby shop when the suspect approached him.
Residents of the community said the two teenagers were known to be close companions and were frequently seen together.
According to them, nothing appeared unusual as they walked side by side shortly before the incident occurred.
The situation reportedly turned tragic moments later when Amos suddenly screamed in pain and collapsed after being stabbed, while the suspect allegedly escaped immediately after the attack.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the killing.
He stated that the command arrested the suspect following the alleged murder of Ariyo during a violent altercation in Owo on March 6, 2026.
According to Jimoh, preliminary findings indicated that the victim was stabbed during an argument by a suspect identified as Johnson Daniel.
He added that the victim was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where doctors confirmed him dead on arrival.
The police spokesperson further explained that detectives visited the scene and recovered the knife believed to have been used in the attack, while the suspect had been taken into custody.
He noted that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Jimoh also conveyed the command’s condolences to the bereaved family and advised members of the public to avoid violence in settling disputes, assuring that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
