Fresh developments have emerged in the tragic killing of Mr. Oladeji Jonas and his wife, Mrs. Florence Oladeji, as authorities on February 16, 2026, demolished the couple’s residence on Agbor Road, Benin City, over alleged links to cult-related activities. The move, ordered by the government, has further heightened tension in the area, with many residents questioning the timing and implications of the action.

The house, which became the scene of the gruesome September 21, 2024 attack, was reportedly identified during ongoing investigations as a location allegedly associated with cult activities linked to the couple’s son. Officials insisted that the demolition was necessary as part of broader efforts to dismantle criminal networks and send a strong warning to cult groups operating within the state.

However, the demolition has also reignited concerns over the fate of the couple’s three daughters—Peculiar and Jennifer Oladeji, alongside their foster sister, Esther Uhunamure—who fled the night of the attack and have not been seen since. Residents say the destruction of the building may have erased potential evidence that could aid in tracking both the perpetrators and the missing children.

Community members expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the government’s hardline stance against cultism, while others described the action as premature given that no suspects have been arrested nearly two years after the killings. “We expected arrests, not just demolition. The killers are still out there, and the children are still missing,” a resident lamented.

Security agencies maintain that investigations are ongoing, but have yet to provide concrete updates on arrests or the whereabouts of the fleeing girls. As fear and uncertainty persist, residents continue to call for intensified efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and uncover the fate of the missing children, whose disappearance remains one of the most troubling aspects of the case.