The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of the body of Mr. Ayo Aiyepeku, a photojournalist allegedly murdered by his colleague, Mr. Oluwapelumi Adebayo.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, disclosed this in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lokoja.
According to Ovye-Aya, Aiyepeku’s decomposing body was discovered on Sunday evening in a bushy area near the WAEC office, Crusher Zone 8, Lokoja.
“Yes, the corpse of the photojournalist has been found. It was discovered on Sunday evening somewhere around the WAEC office, Zone 8 axis of Lokoja.
The corpse has been deposited at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
A discreet investigation will help us uncover what truly happened,” he said.
He appealed to the victim’s family, colleagues, and the public to provide credible information that may assist the investigation.
Family Demands Justice
The deceased’s family, represented by his elder brother, Mr. Timothy Aiyepeku, and his uncle, Dr. Ibikunle Jide, has made a passionate appeal for justice, calling on the Kogi State Government and police authorities to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
“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,” the family said.
“We commend the police for their efforts so far and appreciate the media for ensuring the incident received wide coverage.”
Chilling Details Emerge
Preliminary findings suggest that the suspect, Oluwapelumi Adebayo, allegedly killed Aiyepeku on Tuesday night, July 22, at an office near the Government House/GRA area of Lokoja. After the murder, Adebayo reportedly stored the corpse in a deep freezer before attempting to dispose of it secretly.
The body was eventually discovered after residents noticed a foul odour emanating from a nearby bush. Upon investigation, they found the decomposing body and alerted the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu, who arrived at the scene with security personnel to oversee its recovery.
The police have launched a full investigation and pledged to pursue justice for the deceased.
