Lokoja-Based Journalist Ayo Aiyepekun Murdered

A photojournalist with Inside Story in Lokoja, an online local newspaper, Ayo Aiyepekun, has been murdered.

‎‎Ayo was said to have been killed on Tuesday by his neighbour (name withheld), who resides in the same compound housing the Inside Story office.

‎An eyewitness who works with Inside Story said he was in the office with the victims, doing some video and photo editing, when the suspect called the victim to help him out on his poultry farm, which is located inside the same compound.

‎‎”It was around 7:30 pm when the suspect called him, but he didn’t know that Ayo was not the only person in the office. Immediately, Ayo got out, the culprit hit him with an iron repeatedly and killed him there.”

‎‎The eyewitness said he saw the suspect lifting the body into a deep freezer before moving the body into his Hilux Van, prompting him to raise the alarm.

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“I called some people on the phone who mobilised the vigilante in the area, but before they came, the neighbour had 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.

‎‎”While the vigilantes were still with us, the suspect drove into the compound in his van and when he saw us, he ran, but the vigilantes chased him. Along the line, his van had an accident during the chase and he jumped out of the vehicle and fled.”

‎‎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 is said to be a staff member of a correctional centre, whose wife separated from him two months ago due to constant domestic violence.

When contacted, the state police command through the public relations officer, SP William Aya, confirmed the killing.

He said that the information got to the police a bit late, but the DPO has been mandated to transfer the case to the state CID for investigation.

He, however, said no arrests have been made so far.