Landlord and 2 others under police arrest, landlord confesses to crime; search on for another accomplice
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Police have arrested a landlord and two others over alleged abduction, robbery, and murder of two students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo.
State Police Commissioner Adebowale Lawal disclosed in Akure that the victims were Abah Friday, 25, and his female friend Okah Eloho, 19.
He said the landlord, Oladele Femi, confessed to initiating the plot and aiding the concealment of the murders.
Lawal narrated that the arrest was made following a petition dated June 24, submitted by G.O. Omoedu & Co., legal practitioners, on behalf of one Emmanuel Peter of Shagari village, Akure, over the abduction of Peter’s younger brother Friday and his friend Eloho who went missing on June 20.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives from anti-kidnapping swung into action and launched an intensive investigation into the reported abduction,” Lawal said.
“Forensic tracking led investigators to Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, where an iPhone 14 Pro Max belonging to one of the victims (Friday) was recovered from one Abdul Mohammed Mubarak, 38.
“Mubarak confessed to purchasing the phone from one Ojo Michael, whose arrest was subsequently effected in Aramoko-Ekiti, while a Lexus RX 350 vehicle belonging to the victims was also recovered at the point of arrest.
“During interrogation, Michael confessed to participating in the robbery, abduction, and eventual murder of the victims. Michael further disclosed that the operation was masterminded by one Oladele Femi ‘m’ – the landlord of the male victim.
“Femi allegedly engaged Micheal and another accomplice (identified as “Kola”, currently at large) to carry out the crime. Investigations revealed that the sum of N800,000 was transferred from the victim’s (Friday) account during their captivity.”
Lawal recounted that Michael admitted to raping the female victim upon her recognising him and unmasking his identity, and that he killed the girl and Friday to prevent them from exposing him.
Lawal said Michael and his accomplice (Kola) disposed of the bodies at separate locations between Agbado and Ode-Ekiti in Ekiti.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of Oladele Femi, who, during confrontation, confessed to initiating the plot and aiding in the concealment of the murders.
“Acting on this confession, detectives recovered the body of the female victim in a bush near Ode-Ekiti, and it has since been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
“Efforts are ongoing to recover the remains of the male victim, who is believed to have been dumped in a river by an accomplice still at large. This case stands as a tragic reminder of the brutality of premeditated crimes and the devastating consequences of betrayal and greed.
“The victims – young, promising undergraduates – were senselessly raped and murdered in cold blood.”
Lawal assured the public that efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect, recover the remains of Friday, and bring all the perpetrators to justice.
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