Police: Photojournalist murdered by colleague in Kogi, suspect found dead

The Kogi state police command says Ayo Aiyepeku, a photojournalist, has reportedly been killed by a colleague, Adebayo Pelumi, in Lokoja, the state capital.

The murder reportedly occurred on Tuesday night inside an office complex located near the Kogi government house.

Williams Ovye-Aya, spokesperson of the police command, confirmed the incident on Thursday, describing it as “sad and unfortunate”.

“The alleged assailant, identified as Adebayo Pelumi, who is currently on the run, was said to be a close friend and colleague of the deceased,” Ovye-Aya said, according to NAN.

A source familiar with the matter said both men worked together and had maintained a cordial professional relationship.

Pelumi allegedly struck Aiyepeku on the head with a blunt object, rendering him unconscious, before dismembering the body and hiding the remains in a freezer.

The police said Pelumi fled the scene after the killing, prompting a manhunt. However, he was found dead the following morning in a hotel room.

“The hotel management alerted us early Thursday morning to a corpse lying in one of the rooms,” Ovye-Aya said.

“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.”

Pelumi’s remains have been deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, for autopsy.

Police also recovered a Hilux vehicle allegedly used by the suspect and a deep freezer found inside it.

Ovye-Aya said the state commissioner of police, Miller Dantawaye, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the state criminal investigation department (SCID) for further investigation.

He added that efforts are ongoing to recover the journalist’s body and appealed to the public, particularly the family and colleagues of the deceased, to provide any information that could assist the investigation.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s family has called for justice and the recovery of his body.

James Aiyepeku, father of the late journalist, described his son as gentle and hardworking, with no known workplace quarrels in the last four years.

He pleaded with the state government and the police to help recover his son’s body and bring those responsible to justice.