Late Chief James Aiyepeku, father of murdered Photo-journalist Ayobami Aiyepeku
Chief James Aiyepeku, father of murdered photojournalist Ayobami Aiyepeku, passed away on Tuesday, August 12, in Lokoja, Kogi State, following a stroke believed to have been triggered by the trauma of his son’s brutal killing on July 22.
Timothy Aiyepeku, the elder brother of the late journalist, shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the family’s home on Wednesday that their father was deeply affected by Ayobami’s death.
“After rushing to make arrangements for the release of Ayobami’s body for burial on August 6, I returned to learn my father had collapsed and was hospitalized,” Timothy recounted.
Despite initial signs of improvement, Chief Aiyepeku’s health deteriorated, leading to his death.
Timothy expressed the family’s suspicion of a conspiracy surrounding Ayobami’s murder, noting that both the journalist’s phone and that of the alleged killer, who reportedly took his own life, were missing.
“We urge the police to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure justice is served,” he stated, emphasizing the family’s trust in the authorities. “We believe the police have the capability to deliver justice for my brother if they commit the necessary resources.”
Despite their profound loss, Timothy said the family remains steadfast in their faith, holding onto hope that “divine justice will prevail” for Ayobami.
He added, “We are awaiting updates from the ongoing police investigation and trust that the law enforcement agency is doing everything required to uncover the truth.”
NAN reported that the Kogi State Police Command’s spokesperson, Superintendent Williams Ovye-Aya, identified Oluwapelumi Adebayo, a colleague of Ayobami, as the prime suspect in the murder, which took place on July 22 in an office near the Government House in Lokoja.
Ovye-Aya noted that Oluwapelumi was found dead in a hotel room in Lokoja on July 23, hours after a police manhunt was initiated, with authorities alleging he died by suicide.
NAN
