The prime suspect in the murder of two students from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has died in detention.
The suspect, Femi Oladele, popularly known as ‘Tallex’, who was the landlord of the deceased students, Andrew Eloho Okah, 25, and John Friday Abba, 19, reportedly died over the weekend after a brief and mysterious illness while in custody.
Tallex had been arrested along with two other suspects for kidnapping, robbery, rape and the murder of the 200-level undergraduates from the Department of History and International Studies (Faculty of Arts) and the Department of Economics (Faculty of Agriculture).
The decomposing remains of Okah were discovered in a shallow grave in a forest along the Ondo/Ekiti border.
Following his arrest, Tallex confessed to the crime, claiming that Okah had shown him repeated disrespect which led to the killing.
Sources said Tallex became ill shortly after making his confessional statement and died after being rushed to hospital.
One source said, “He (Tallex) is dead. We were told that he died after falling sick, but what is unclear is the exact time and date of his death. Some say he died about a week ago, but police say he died on Friday. There’s also confusion over whether he died in the cell or at the hospital.”
Confirming the death, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that Tallex had been in and out of hospital under medical supervision before passing away in the early hours of Friday. “As of now, the decomposing remains of Okah have been recovered, and efforts are ongoing to locate Abba’s body. We urge the public to disregard distorted narratives aimed at diverting attention from the facts. The Command assures that justice will be pursued and all those involved will face the full weight of the law,” Ayanlade said.
