Tragedy struck in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, following the gruesome killing of Ayo Aiyepekun, a photojournalist with the online news outlet Inside Story.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening within the same compound housing the media office.
According to an eyewitness and colleague of the deceased, the suspected killer, believed to be a neighbour whose name is yet to be disclosed, called Ayo around 7:30 p.m. to assist him at his poultry farm, located within the premises.
Unknown to the suspect, Ayo was not alone in the office at the time.
The colleague recounted that as soon as Ayo stepped out, the suspect allegedly struck him multiple times with an iron object, killing him instantly.
“I was inside editing some videos with him when the suspect called him out. Moments later, I saw him dragging Ayo’s lifeless body and trying to place it in a deep freezer before transferring it to his Hilux van. That’s when I raised the alarm,” the witness said.
Efforts to stop the suspect failed, as he fled the scene with the victim’s body before local vigilantes could arrive. Blood stains were later found in the freezer and around the poultry area.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, the suspect returned to the compound with his vehicle while the vigilantes were still present.
On sighting them, he attempted to escape again, leading to a high-speed chase. His van reportedly crashed, and he fled on foot, evading capture.
The witness noted that the inside of the van was also stained with blood, raising suspicions of possible ritual motives behind the murder. The victim’s body has yet to be recovered.
The incident was officially reported on Wednesday to the Kogi State Police Headquarters.
The suspect, according to locals, works with a correctional facility and was recently separated from his wife due to repeated domestic abuse allegations.
Confirming the development, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, said the command received the report late but has ordered the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to hand over the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a thorough investigation.
He added that no arrest has been made yet, and efforts to apprehend the suspect are ongoing.