By: Ahmed Muhammed Danasabe
Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria- July 23, 2025 (Series News Online)
A photojournalist with Inside Story in Lokoja, Ayo Aiyepekun, has been murdered on Tuesday night by his neighbour, Adebayo Pelumi, who resides in the same compound housing the Inside Story office situated at GRA Lokoja.
According to an eye witness who worked with the Inside Story, the witness said he was in the office with the victim doing some video and photo editing when the suspect called the victim to help him out in his poultry farm which is inside the same compound. The eye witness stated, "It was around 7:30pm when the suspect called him, but he didn't know that Ayo was not the only person in the office. Immediately Ayo got out, Adebayo hit him with iron repeatedly and killed him there."
The eye witness said he saw the suspect lifting the body into a deep freezer before moving the body into his Hilux Van, prompting him to raise an alarm. The witness quoted, "I called some people on the phone who mobilized the vigilante in the area, but before they came, Adebayo has made away with the dead body."
The witness said that along with the vigilante, they searched the area but could only see blood stains in the freezer and around the poultry stall. The witness further stated, "While the vigilante were still with us, the suspect drove into the compound with his van and when he saw us, he turned back and refused to stop, but the vigilante chased him and along the line, his car had an accident during the chase which made him jump out of the vehicle and ran away."
The witness said the van was also stained with human blood. He said that while the body was yet to be recovered, they feared that ritual may be the reason for the murder.
The case was however reported on Wednesday at the State Police Headquarters in Lokoja.
The suspect, Adebayo Pelumi, is said to be a staff of the Correctional centre, whose wife separated from him two months ago due to constant domestic violence. Meanwhile, effort to confirm the incident from Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer SP William Ayah proved abortive.
Tags
Crime