Police arrest 3 suspects over ritual killing of 100 level female student of Federal University, Lokoja

Operatives of Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police has arrested three suspects in connection with the killing of 100 level female student of Federal University, Lokoja.

Speaking at a press briefing by the Command on Friday in Lokoja, the suspects confessed to killing the student after she was drugged

Revealing the names of suspects as
Jeremiah Paul Awe (21), Barnabas Olugbenga (20), Ajani Basit Ayomide (20) and Emmanuel Otitoju (24), the Command explained that the suspects were paid the sum of N400,000 ransom by parents of the deceased, having not known that the lady had been murdered.

In a statement which was made available to CAPITAL POST on Friday by the the Spokesman of the Command, SP William Ovye Ayah said:

“The Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, attached to the State Intelligence Department (SID), Kogi Command, on 11/09/2024 at about 1615hrs arrested a 21 years old Jeremiah Paul Awe of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State who is responsible for the kidnapped and killing of 17 years old Damilola Abigail Oluwoyo, a 100 Level Student of Biology Department of Federal University Lokoja.

“This is consequent upon a complaint received on 6th September, 2024 from one Stephen Oluwoyo that, his daughter Damilola was missing and that her GSM number could not be reached after her examination on 2nd September, 2024.

“He further stated that he received a message from an unknown GSM number that his daughter Damilola has been abducted and the abductor demanded for a ransom.

“The operatives promptly swung into action through an actionable intelligence with the assistance of the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) from the Force Headquarters, trailed and arrested the suspect one Jeremiah Paul Awe on 11/09/2024 in connection with the crime.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to have kidnapped and killed the victim, Damilola on 4th September, 2024 at about 2030hrs.

“He further confessed that, he added a drug (codeine) into a drink and gave it to her to make her weak and lured her into a nearby bush close to his lodge at Felele area of Lokoja where he strangled her to death, mutilated her eyes, lung, liver, tongue, intestines, and fleshy parts of her buttocks and dumped the corpse in the bush.

“He further disclosed that, immediately he killed his victim, he placed a call to the father and demanded for a ransom to enable him meet up with the requirements for the rituals from the native doctor whom he met on TikTok. The father of the deceased sent the sum of N400,000 as ransom unknown to him that his daughter was already dead.

“On 11/09/2024, the suspect led the team of operatives to the scene where the corpse of late Damilola was recovered, evacuated and deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja mortuary for autopsy.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of three other suspects, (Barnabas Olugbenga 20 years old from Kaduna State, Ajani Basit Ayomide of Felele 20 years old, Emmanuel Otitoju 24 years) two of which are his friends who aided the commission of the crime.

“Suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation.”