The Kogi State Police Command has commenced probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of a fresh graduate of the University of Maiduguri, Aminu Lawal, who was allegedly murdered in Lokoja a fortnight ago.
InsightLinks gathered that the probe was launched following pressures and public outcry from family members, friends and neighbours who alleged that a suspect arrested in connection with the crime was about to be released by the police following lobby from some powerful quarters.
As a result of these worries, Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat told journalists in Lokoja that detailed investigations on the case has commenced .
She added that the outcome of the investigation would be made public very soon.
“It’s not true that the police is under pressure to release the suspect. We are still investigating the case. We will probe it to a logical conclusion,” Oyiza said, promising to give more details as they unfolded.
Aminu, who was said to have recently graduated from the University of Maiduguri and was awaiting callup for the National Youth Service Corps, was briefly discovered missing on Wednesday, March 18.
He was said to have left home in Otokiti Estate to hussle for passengers in his luggage tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP that morning but failed to return on schedule. His worried parents immediately raised the alarm and launched a frantic search for his whereabouts.
Their greatest fears were later confirmed when he was found lifeless the following day, Thursday.
His mutilated remains were discovered in an isolated bush path opposite the Central Bank, Zone 8 area in the state capital.
Sources who saw his remains narrated to our correspondent that his head was suspected to have been smashed with a heavy object by his yet to be identified assailants. The attackers were also said to have cut the left side vein on his neck, even when his tricycle has yet to be found.
The gory discovery of Lawal’s remains Arewa PUNCH further gathered plunged the family and entire neighbourhood into mourning, just as the body was promptly recovered and buried according to Islamic rites of passage.
Our correspondent reports further that the event took a new dimension when an independent community-led investigation indicted one Garuba who is an acquaintance and resident of the same Otokiti Estate in the victim’s death.
Garuba was identified as one of the last callers of the deceased.
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