Kogi State Police Command has reported that Jacob Adebayo Pelumi, the prime suspect in the murder of photojournalist Ayo Aiyepeku, was found dead in an apparent suicide.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lokoja.
According to Ovye-Aya, Pelumi’s body was discovered in a hotel room in Lokoja on Thursday morning, shortly after police initiated a manhunt for him on Wednesday.
Hotel management alerted authorities to a body in one of their rooms. “Upon arrival, we confirmed it was the suspect linked to the journalist’s killing,” Ovye-Aya said. “A suicide note and a bottle of Sniper insecticide were found beside his bed.”
Pelumi’s body has been taken to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lokoja for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death. Ovye-Aya noted that Aiyepeku was brutally killed on Tuesday night in an office near the Government House/GRA area of Lokoja.
Police have recovered a Hilux vehicle allegedly used by Pelumi, now stationed at the ‘A’ Division, along with a deep freezer found inside it. Efforts to locate Aiyepeku’s body are ongoing, Ovye-Aya added.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department on the orders of Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye for a thorough investigation. “We are committed to uncovering the truth,” Ovye-Aya stated, urging the victim’s family, colleagues, and the public to provide any relevant information.
The family of the deceased journalist has made heartfelt pleas for justice. Chief James Aiyepeku, the victim’s father, described his son as a gentle and dedicated professional with no known workplace conflicts in his four years as a journalist. He called on Governor Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to recover his son’s body and hold those responsible accountable.
Timothy Aiyepeku, the victim’s brother, echoed the call for justice, noting that the family has yet to locate Ayobami’s body. He described his brother as kind and hardworking, urging federal and state authorities to unravel the circumstances of the killing.
Dr. Ibikunle Jide, the victim’s uncle, praised the police for their prompt response but pressed for intensified efforts to find the body. He emphasized the need for proactive government action and thanked the media for amplifying the case. (NAN)
