The Ondo State Police have confirmed the arrest of a landlord and two others in connection with the kidnapping and murder of two students from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, disclosed this on Wednesday in Akure during a press briefing on the command’s recent achievements.
He revealed that the victims were 25-year-old Abah Friday and his 19-year-old female friend, Okah Eloho.
Lawal further stated that the landlord, Oladele Femi, confessed to orchestrating the plot and assisting in covering up the murders.
He added that the landlord, Oladele Femi, admitted to masterminding the plot and playing a role in concealing the murders.
The Commissioner of Police explained that the arrests followed a petition dated June 24, 2025, submitted by G.O. Omoedu & Co., Legal Practitioners, on behalf of Mr. Emmanuel Peter from Shagari Village, Akure.
According to Lawal, the petition was filed over the disappearance of Peter’s younger brother, Friday, and his friend, Eloho, who were reported missing on June 20, 2025.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives from anti-kidnapping swung into action and launched an intensive investigation into the reported abduction. Forensic tracking led investigators to Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, where an iPhone 14 Pro Max belonging to one of the victims (Friday) was recovered from one Abdul Mohammed Mubarak, 38.
“Mubarak confessed to purchasing the phone from one Ojo Michael, whose arrest was subsequently effected in Aramoko-Ekiti, while a Lexus RX 350 vehicle belonging to the victims was also recovered at the point of arrest.
“During interrogation, Michael confessed to participating in the robbery, abduction, and eventual murder of the victims. Michael further disclosed that the operation was masterminded by one Oladele Femi ‘m’—the landlord of the male victim.
“Femi allegedly engaged Micheal and another accomplice (identified as “Kola”, currently at large) to carry out the crime. Investigations revealed that the sum of N800,000 was transferred from the victim’s (Friday) account during their captivity,” he said.
Lawal revealed that the suspect, Michael, confessed to raping the female victim after she recognised him and uncovered his identity. To prevent them from exposing him, he killed both her and her friend, Friday.
The Commissioner added that Michael and his accomplice, Kola, disposed of the victims’ bodies at different locations between Agbado and Ode-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of Oladele Femi, who, during confrontation, confessed to initiating the plot and aiding in the concealment of the murders.
“Acting on this confession, detectives recovered the body of the female victim in a bush near Ode-Ekiti, and it has since been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
“Efforts are ongoing to recover the remains of the male victim, who is believed to have been dumped in a river by an accomplice still at large. This case stands as a tragic reminder of the brutality of premeditated crimes and the devastating consequences of betrayal and greed.
“The victims—young, promising undergraduates—were senselessly raped and murdered in cold blood,” he said.
Lawal, therefore, assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspect at large, recover the remains of Abah John Friday, and bring all responsible parties to justice.
