06.11.2026 19:31
It has emerged that Arif Sefa Özdemir, who killed 8 people in Afyonkarahisar, called the village headman who had helped him in Izmir a day before the massacre and asked for his forgiveness. The headman, recounting that Özdemir said on the phone, "You put a lot of effort into me; forgive me for any rights you have over me," shared the details of the 9-minute conversation.
It has emerged that the blood-chilling murders in Afyonkarahisar began with a combine harvester dispute. Murder suspect Arif Sefa Özdemir, in his statement at the Gendarmerie, recounted that last year he bought a combine harvester from a person named Ahmet Uzel for 40 thousand Euros and began working with this combine harvester around Manisa and İzmir. However, he stated that the combine harvester became unusable in a fire that broke out while it was working in the field, and that after this incident a dispute arose between him and Uzel. According to Özdemir's statement, Uzel met with him last week and demanded the 11 thousand Euros remaining from the combine harvester. Özdemir, however, said that his debt was 4 thousand Euros and that he would make payment within a short time. It was alleged that the dispute between the parties over the debt amount grew and that mutual insults and threats occurred over the phone.
HE KILLED 3 PEOPLE AT THE EXIT OF AYAZİNİ VILLAGE
According to the allegation, on the day of the incident Özdemir invited Ahmet Uzel to Afyonkarahisar to make a payment. Uzel came to the city taking Bekir and Noman Toprak with him. The parties met at the exit of Ayazini village. After an argument that broke out there, Özdemir opened fire with the pump-action shotgun he had brought with him and killed three people. It was alleged that Özdemir, who later fled the scene, targeted other people he encountered along his route in order to hijack their vehicles.
A DAY EARLIER HE CALLED THE VILLAGE HEADMAN AND ASKED FOR ‘FORGIVENESS’
It was understood that the combine harvester cited as the reason for the attack was in the Tekeli Atatürk Neighborhood of Menderes district. Tekeli Atatürk Neighborhood Headman Osman Kavlagan, who recounted that before the incident the suspect Arif Sefa Özdemir had called him, said: ‘Arif Sefa Özdemir called me on Wednesday at 18:42. We talked for 9 minutes. He said, “Headman, is there anything bothering you? Is there any problem, anything concerning me?” I said, “No, my health is good.” He said, “Brother, you have put a lot of effort into me, forgive me for your rights.” I said, “The tarp on this machine has been torn, come let us fix these.” He said, “No brother, I am not in a position to come right now,” and said, “Forgive me for your rights again.” I said, “What rights would I have over you, may they be forgiven.” I had bought him tires.’ he said.
VILLAGERS COLLECTED 50 THOUSAND TL IN AID FOR ÖZDEMİR, WHOSE COMBINE HARVESTER BURNED
Kavlagan, who said he learned about the incident while watching the news, said: ‘It was saved in my phone as “Biçerci Arif.” Since I had bought tires, I looked at the invoice. It said Arif Sefa Özdemir; that is how I understood. When I heard his name on the night news, I said, “Oh no, this is our combine operator.” He used alcohol constantly. We brought the combine harvester from the plain with a tractor.’
Kavlagan, who said the villagers collected aid for Arif Sefa Özdemir's burned combine harvester, said: ‘We collected close to 50 thousand liras for him. Shopkeepers, the tire dealer, the oil dealer, the parts dealer, and the diesel dealer helped. We helped too. Then he left here and said, “I bought another combine harvester as a partnership,” and said, “I got hit by that one too.” I said, “Take care of yourself a bit, do not get into everything like this.” He said, “Brother, there is nothing to be done.” We had a 9-minute conversation between us.’
‘I REGRET THAT I HELPED’
Ahmet Gök, the owner of the field where the combine harvester burned, emphasized: ‘We started harvesting at harvest time. I was in the village too. My son called me and said, “Dad, the combine is on fire.” I came here, but by the time I arrived, both the combine harvester and the field had burned. I learned about the incident today. I regretted helping afterwards. We collected money in the village for Arif Seza Özdemir. He apparently had a combine harvester debt. Both our field and our crop burned. We did not file a complaint.’