The Kogi State Police Command said Jacob Adebayo Pelumi, the suspected killer of photojournalist Ayo Aiyepeku, has reportedly committed suicide in Lokoja, the State capital
Confirming the development on Thursday, July 24, 2025, the Command Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said the body of Pelumi, who is the prime suspect in Ayo’s murder, was discovered in a hotel room in Lokoja.
The Command’s Spokesman said the discovery happened just hours after the Police launched a manhunt for him (Pelumi) on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
According to Ovye-Aya, “The hotel management alerted us early Thursday morning about a corpse found in one of their rooms.
“When we arrived at the scene, we confirmed the deceased was the suspect wanted in connection with the murder of the photojournalist. A suicide note and a bottle of Sniper insecticide were found beside the bed.”
He further stated that Pelumi’s body has been taken to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lokoja for an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death.
However, commenting on initial crime of murder, SP Ovye-Aya said Aiyepeku was brutally murdered on Tuesday night in his office near the Government House and GRA in Lokoja.
He also disclosed that a Hilux vehicle allegedly used by the suspect has since been recovered and currently in police custody at the ‘A’ Division police station.
This is as the Command PRO said a deep freezer found inside the vehicle has also been seized by Police investigators.
Meanwhile, the Police have confirmed that efforts to locate Aiyepeku’s remains are ongoing, stating that they are yet to receive any information on the whereabouts of his corpse.
It was gathered from competent sources that Pelumi, a serving officer with the Nigeria Correctional Service, Zone H in Makurdi, covering Kogi and Benue States, allegedly struck Aiyepeku on the head, dismembered his body, and stored the remains in a refrigerator.
The sources said the unfortunate incident reportedly took place in Aiyepeku’s office.
Offering insight on the incident, the Command PRO informed journalists on Wednesday that, “The matter was reported to the Divisional Police Officer, A Division, as a case of culpable homicide.”
SP Ovye-Aya added that the “Police visited the scene and immediately commenced an investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation.”
He assured that Police authorities are focused on uncovering the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder incident.
