Kogi Police Arrest Suspected Kidnapper/Ritualist, Recover Mutilated Corpse of Victim

The Kogi State Police Command has announced the arrest of a suspected kidnapper and ritualist, Jeremiah Paul Awe, 21, in connection with the abduction and murder of Damilola Abigail Oluwoyo, a 17-year-old student of Federal University Lokoja.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, the suspect was arrested on September 11, 2024, following a complaint from Damilola's father, Stephen Oluwoyo, who reported that his daughter had gone missing after her examination on September 2, 2024.

The police operatives, through an actionable intelligence and assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) from the Force Headquarters, trailed and arrested the suspect, who confessed to kidnapping and killing Damilola on September 4, 2024.

The suspect allegedly drugged Damilola with codeine, strangled her to death, and mutilated her body parts, including her eyes, lungs, liver, tongue, intestines, and buttocks. He then demanded a ransom from Damilola's father, who unknowingly sent N400,000, not knowing that his daughter was already dead.

Three other suspects, Barnabas Olugbenga, 20, Ajani Basit Ayomide, 20, and Emmanuel Otitoju, 24, were also arrested for aiding the commission of the crime. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation.

The corpse of the deceased has been recovered and deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja mortuary for autopsy.