Suspected killer of Kogi journalist commits suicide – Police

The Kogi State Police Command said Jacob Adebayo Pelumi, the suspected killer of photo-journalist Mr Ayo Aiyepeku, has allegedly committed suicide.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, disclosed this on Thursday in Lokoja.

Ovye-Aya said Pelumi’s corpse was discovered in a hotel room in Lokoja, hours after police launched a manhunt for him on Wednesday.

“The hotel management alerted us early Thursday morning to a corpse lying in one of the rooms.

“Upon responding, we discovered it was the suspect wanted in connection with the alleged killing of the photo-journalist.

“We found a suicide note and a bottle of Sniper insecticide beside his bed in the hotel room,” he said.

Pelumi’s body has been deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, for autopsy to determine the actual cause of death.

Ovye-Aya said Aiyepeku was gruesomely murdered on Tuesday night in an office near the Government House/GRA area of Lokoja.

He said the Hilux vehicle allegedly used by Pelumi has been recovered and is now parked at the ‘A’ Division station, adding that a deep freezer found in the vehicle has also been taken into custody by the police.

Regarding the whereabouts of Aiyepeku’s body, Ovye-Aya said efforts to locate it are ongoing.

He stated that the Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, has ordered the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“The discreet investigation will help us uncover what truly happened,” Ovye-Aya said.

He appealed to the victim’s family, colleagues, and the public to provide credible information to aid the investigation.

Earlier, the deceased’s family made a passionate appeal to police authorities and the Kogi government for justice.

Chief James Aiyepeku, father of the deceased, said his son was assassinated in cold blood and called for justice.

He described Ayobami as gentle and hardworking, with no known quarrels at work over the last four years.

He pleaded with Governor Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to help retrieve his son’s body and punish the perpetrators.

Mr Timothy Aiyepeku, the deceased’s elder brother, and his uncle, Dr Ibikunle Jide, also appealed for justice.

Timothy said: “As I speak, we have yet to recover the body of my younger brother.”

He described Ayobami as kind, humble and hardworking, saying the family deserves justice for his untimely death.

He appealed to the Federal and Kogi governments and police authorities to uncover the mystery behind the killing.

Dr Jide commended the police for their swift response but urged intensified efforts to recover Ayobami’s body.

He stressed that government must be proactive, as every hand must be on deck to find the body promptly.

“We also thank the media for ensuring the incident receives wide coverage and public attention,” he added.