LOKOJA, Nigeria (BN24) — The prime suspect in the killing of photojournalist Ayo Aiyepekun was found dead Thursday in a Lokoja hotel room in an apparent suicide, just two days after the journalist was allegedly murdered in what police are treating as a criminal investigation.
Authorities identified the deceased as Adebayo Pelumi, a fellow photographer and colleague of Aiyepekun. Police said Pelumi had been declared wanted in connection with the killing, which occurred Tuesday, July 22, in the state capital of Kogi.
According to hotel staff, Pelumi checked in on Wednesday afternoon and was discovered unresponsive around 1 p.m. Thursday during a routine checkout procedure. “One of our stewards went in to clean up the room and found him lifeless,” said an employee who spoke under condition of anonymity. Hotel management immediately alerted law enforcement, who identified the body as that of the suspect.
A bottle of Coca-Cola and a chemical substance suspected to be Sniper, a pesticide commonly linked to suicide cases in Nigeria, were reportedly recovered at the scene. The remains were taken to the mortuary at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja.
Details surrounding the killing of Aiyepekun continue to emerge. An eyewitness, who worked with the victim at InsideStory online media, recounted that he was in the office with Aiyepekun editing video and photos on the night of the incident when Pelumi called, requesting assistance at his poultry farm located within the same compound.
The call came around 8:30 p.m., the witness said. Unaware that Aiyepekun was not alone in the office, the suspect allegedly attacked him with an iron rod upon arrival. “He struck him repeatedly and then placed his body in a deep freezer,” the source recalled. Moments later, the suspect reportedly transferred the body to a Hilux van, prompting the witness to raise an alarm.
“I called people who mobilized the local vigilante, but by the time they arrived, the suspect had already taken off with the body,” the witness added. The group reportedly found bloodstains in the freezer and around the poultry area.
While searching the area, the vigilante team encountered Pelumi returning to the property in the same van. “When he saw us, he took off,” the witness said. A brief chase ensued, during which the vehicle crashed. Pelumi allegedly fled on foot, and authorities lost track of him until he was found dead the next day.
Police confirmed that the van was stained with blood, further implicating the suspect in the killing. Although the body of the victim had not been immediately recovered, authorities and locals have raised suspicions of possible ritual motives behind the murder.
The incident was officially reported to the Kogi State Police Headquarters on Wednesday.
Sources close to the suspect revealed that Pelumi had been experiencing personal turmoil. His wife reportedly left him two months ago, citing repeated domestic abuse. Authorities are continuing investigations into the motive, while the media community in Kogi mourns the loss of Aiyepekun, described as a committed journalist known for his work in photo documentation and investigative reporting.
Credit: Punching.com
