The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of the body of Mr. Ayo Aiyepeku, a photo-journalist who was allegedly murdered by his colleague, Oluwapelumi Adebayo, in Lokoja.
His remains were found on Sunday evening near the WAEC office, in the Crusher Zone 8 axis of the state capital, after days of being declared missing.
Confirming the incident, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), “Yes, the corpse of the photojournalist has been found. It was discovered on Sunday evening somewhere around WAEC office, Zone 8 axis of Lokoja. The corpse has been deposited at Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.”
SP Ovye-Aya described the murder as gruesome, and revealed that Aiyepeku was killed on Tuesday night, July 22, in an office near the Government House/GRA area of Lokoja. “The discreet investigation will help us uncover what truly happened,” he said, urging members of the public, “to provide credible information that could assist the ongoing investigation.”
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According to preliminary reports, after killing Aiyepeku, the suspect allegedly stuffed the body in a deep freezer before disposing of it in a bush. Residents of the area were reportedly drawn to the scene by a foul odour, which led to the gruesome discovery.
Eyewitnesses said the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Abdullahi Adamu, was immediately alerted and arrived with security agents to supervise the recovery of the corpse.
The suspect, Adebayo, went into hiding following the incident, prompting a state-wide manhunt by security operatives.However, he was later found dead in a private lodge on Thursday afternoon. A bottle of beverage and a suspected poisonous substance were found at the scene, suggesting a possible suicide.
The victim’s family has since appealed for justice. Speaking to NAN, Ayo’s elder brother, Mr. Timothy Aiyepeku, said: “Now that the body has been found, we once again appeal to the Federal and Kogi governments and the police authorities to uncover the mystery behind the killing. We want justice.”
Also speaking, the victim’s uncle, Dr. Ibikunle Jide, added: “This is a painful and tragic loss. Ayobami was a promising young man. We commend the police for their efforts so far and the media for ensuring this tragedy received public attention.”
The police say investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the murder and to bring the suspect to justice.