By John Odunayo
An ex-convict, who completed his jail term in May, Omowaye Ayodele; and two others – Ojo Temidayo and Busarí Lookman have confessed their roles in the killings, kidnapping and attacks on Point of Sales operators in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, who made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday, stated that the three suspects, who had been arrested by the police in the state following investigations, confessed to a number of crimes.
Abutu stated that the suspects narrated their roles in the killing on 7th June of a woman, Aina Adeyemi, who was robbed and shot dead at the Federal Polytechnic Satellite Campus area.
He said that the ex-convict confessed he was member of the kidnapping syndicate that recently kidnapped former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Prof Femi Olaofe, from his residence on July 9. Olaofe was found dead and buried in a shallow grave on July 31.
According to him, Ayodele added that “himself and his gang members have attacked and robbed different Point of Sale operators at different locations in Ado Ekiti such as Bawa Estate Area, Better Life Area, among others”.
The PPRO stated that following the June 7 killing of the woman, Adeyemi, by a gunman riding on an unregistered Boxer Bajaj motorcycle, “the Command immediately deployed the Rapid Response Squad operatives to the scene. Investigation by the Command led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Ayodele.
“During investigation, the suspect confessed to have taken part in the commission of the crime and mentioned Temidayo and Lookman as accomplices.
Ayodele said that Lookman shot and robbed the victim while himself and Temidayo were standing beside the road very close to the scene of crime to monitor the environment and to describe the victim to Lookman who carried out the operation.
“Intensified effort by the RRS operatives led to the arrest of Lookman, who confessed during interrogation that he was the one who shot the deceased victim and robbed her of ₦155,000. He also one Sunday Onyema who is currently at large.
“According to him, the money was handed over to Ayodele, who in turn shared ₦50,000 to him.
“Temidayo, in his own, confessed that he is an Indian hemp seller and a fraudster.
“The suspects arrested are currently undergoing investigation and shall be arraigned accordingly, while effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing member of the gang who is allegedly in custody of the arms they use for their operations,” the PPRO stated.
