From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
It was a double tragedy for the Aiyepeku family as the head of the family, Chief James Aiyepeku, father of Ayobami Aiyepeku, a photojournalist who was murdered on July 22 in Kogi State, slumped and died.
Chief Aiyepeku died on Tuesday, August 12, as a result of a stroke, reportedly triggered by the shock of his son’s gruesome murder.
The son, Ayobami, was gruesomely murdered by his friend and a correctional officer, Oluwapelumi Tolani Adebayo, on July 22 for reasons yet unknown, and his corpse was taken to an unknown place.
The assailant was said to have later committed suicide after being declared wanted by the police, while the corpse of the slain photojournalist was recovered in a bush path.
Mr Timothy Aiyepeku, elder brother to the late journalist, told newsmen at the family residence on Wednesday in Lokoja that their father had been traumatised by Ayobami’s brutal killing.
“On Wednesday, August 6, after rushing out to complete the necessary arrangements towards the release of Ayobami’s corpse for burial, I returned home to the news that my father had fallen and was hospitalised.
“Despite initial signs of recovery, my father’s condition worsened, and he eventually succumbed to his illness on Tuesday, August 12,” he said.
Timothy emphasised that the family suspected a conspiracy in Ayobami’s death, citing the absence of his phone and the phone of the suspected killer, who allegedly took his own life.
He said, “The family is urging the police to leave no stone unturned in their investigation, trusting that justice will be served.
“We believe that the police can do the job; they should just put in the needed courage to see that justice is achieved for my brother, now that death has taken another toll in the family,” Timothy appealed.
