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In a disturbing turn of events, the Kwara State police have recovered the severed head of Rafiu Akao, a 34-year-old commercial motorcyclist (okada rider) brutally murdered in Ilorin East Local Government Area.
Investigators made the grim discovery from the State Criminal Investigation Department after Akao’s body part was found discarded in a nearby stream in Asunlere community, Oke-Oyi town.
According to a statement by DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, spokesperson for the Kwara police, three suspects—Peter Samuel, Jeremiah Tiozinda, and Sunday Agbenke—confessed to orchestrating the murder on 4th November 2024.
The motive behind the killing was allegedly to steal Akao’s motorcycle, with each suspect playing a specific role in the heinous crime.
Describing the sequence of events, DSP Toun revealed, “Sunday Agbenke provided Peter Samuel with the contact information of the rider. Peter lured him to a secluded location, where, under the guise of needing to relieve himself, he halted the ride.”
Taking advantage of the situation, Tiozinda reportedly struck Akao with a stick, rendering him vulnerable. Despite his efforts to escape, Akao was eventually overpowered.
“Peter Samuel then took out a cutlass and severed his head, while Jeremiah Tiozinda discarded the cutlass and the head in a nearby stream,” Toun added.
Vigilantes patrolling the area overheard the assault and chased the suspects, forcing them to abandon the stolen motorcycle and flee.
However, a mobile phone belonging to Peter Samuel was left behind at the crime scene, a key piece of evidence that enabled the police to apprehend the suspects swiftly. The suspects are set to face legal proceedings as police continue their investigation.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Victor Olaiya has reaffirmed his commitment to public safety, reiterating the enforcement of a nighttime curfew for motorcycle and tricycle riders, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., to curb criminal activities.