Police Arrest Suspected Killer Of Ondo Building Materials Merchant
Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with the assassination of an Ore-based building materials merchant, Alhaji Sumaila Awoyinka, in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The suspect, Afolabi Ijalo, was arrested by a team of detectives who had been on his trail since the merchant was killed on March 1, 2025.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi on Friday.
The commissioner disclosed that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) arrested the suspect in Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state on Thursday..
According to the Commissioner, the residence of the suspect was searched and a locally made pistol was found in his possession.
Other items found are assorted criminal charms and cudgels.
The Commissioner said: “The prime suspect in the murder of the businessman in Ore has been arrested.
“Sequel to the murder of late Alhaji Awoyinka Sumaila “M”, a businessman in Ore on 1/03/2025 at Ore in Odigbo LGA
“As a result of an in-depth and discreet investigation into the incident, coupled with the assistance of technical support, on 10/04/202, a5, a team of detectives from SCID, who had been on the trail of the suspect, nabbed the prime suspect, one Afolabi Ijalo ” M” in Ore community.
“During a search of the residence of the suspect, the following exhibits were recovered. Local-made pistol suspected to have been used to kill the deceased, assorted criminal charms, cudgels.
“Suspect and exhibits are presently in police custody. Investigation is ongoing. The Suspect has made a useful confession In his confessional statement.”
It was reported that some suspected assassins hid in a stall very close to the residence of the Alhaji Awoyinka at Caring Heart Mega School, Idi Mango area in Ore on the fateful day.
The assailants shot the deceased at close range, exposing his intestines, while the residents of the area scampered for safety following the gunshot.
The killers of the merchant were said to be in white attires on the fateful day.
A source said: “He was assassinated the moment he left the mosque after Taraweeh prayer (a voluntary prayer during Ramadan), very close to his house, around 8:35 p.m. on the fateful day.
“After he left the mosque, some persons dressed in white attire alighted from a motorcycle and hid nearby.
“As the deceased was about to enter his house, they ambushed him and shot him. He was shot at close range, and his intestines were exposed. He died instantly.”
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