Killer of Kogi photojournalist commits suicide in hotel

The suspected killer of Ayo Aiyepeku, a photojournalist, Jacob Adebayo Pelumi, has allegedly committed suicide in Kogi State.

The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, disclosed this on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Ovye-Aya said Pelumi’s corpse was found in a hotel room in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, hours after police launched a manhunt for him on Wednesday.

Ovye-Aya stated: “The hotel management alerted us early Thursday morning to a corpse lying in one of the rooms.

“Upon responding, we discovered it was the suspect wanted in connection with the alleged killing of the photojournalist.

“We found a suicide note and a bottle of Sniper insecticide beside his bed in the hotel room.”

The police spokesperson added that Pelumi’s body has been deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, for autopsy to determine the actual cause of death.

Photojournalist killed by colleague in Kogi

Ovye-Aya recalled that Aiyepeku was gruesomely murdered on Tuesday night in an office near the Government House/GRA area of Lokoja.

He said the Hilux vehicle allegedly used by Pelumi has been recovered and is now parked at the ‘A’ Division station.

A deep freezer found in the vehicle has also been taken into custody by the police.

Regarding the whereabouts of Aiyepeku’s body, the police spokesperson said efforts to locate it are ongoing.

He stated that the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, has ordered the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“The discreet investigation will help us uncover what truly happened,” Ovye-Aya disclosed.

The Star