AKURE, NIGERIA – What began as a missing persons report has taken a tragic and chilling turn, as the Ondo State Police Command confirmed that two students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), were kidnapped and murdered — allegedly by a man they trusted: their own landlord.
The victims, 25-year-old Abah John Friday and 19-year-old Okah Andrel Eloho, were declared missing on June 20, 2025. Now, nearly a month later, investigators say the case was not a random crime — but a planned betrayal involving robbery, rape, and murder.
A Landlord’s Deadly Plot
Addressing journalists in Akure on Wednesday, July 16, Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal disclosed that the prime suspect is Oladele Femi — the landlord of the male victim, Friday Abah. According to the police, Femi not only masterminded the abduction but also actively participated in concealing the murders.
“Following a petition filed on June 24 by Mr Emmanuel Peter, the elder brother of one of the victims, our Anti-Kidnapping Unit swung into action,” CP Lawal said. “Forensic tracking led us to Computer Village in Lagos, where the iPhone 14 Pro Max belonging to one of the victims was recovered.”
The phone was in the possession of 38-year-old Abdul Mohammed Mubarak, who reportedly bought it from another suspect, Ojo Michael. Michael was arrested in Aramoko-Ekiti, where officers also recovered a Lexus RX 350 stolen from the victims.
Confessions and Horror
Under intense interrogation, Michael confessed to being part of the abduction, robbery, and murder plot. He told detectives that Femi — the victims’ landlord — had contracted him and another man, currently at large and identified only as “Kola”, to carry out the heinous act.
Investigations revealed that N800,000 was forcefully withdrawn from Mr Abah’s account while in captivity. Michael also admitted to raping the female victim, Okah Eloho. When she recognised his face and threatened to expose him, he and his accomplices decided to eliminate both victims.
The victims were murdered and their bodies dumped in separate locations between Agbado and Ode-Ekiti, police said. The remains of Eloho were recovered in a bush near Ode-Ekiti and taken to the mortuary for autopsy. Efforts are still underway to retrieve the body of Abah, believed to have been thrown into a river by the fleeing suspect.
A Shocking Betrayal
The most devastating part of this tragedy is the identity of the alleged mastermind. The person the victims likely trusted the most — their landlord — is now accused of planning their deaths for financial gain.
According to the Commissioner, Femi has confessed to initiating the plot and facilitating the cover-up.
“This is a grim reminder of how greed and betrayal can lead to unthinkable tragedy,” CP Lawal said solemnly. “These were young, promising students whose lives were cut short in the most inhumane way.”
Ongoing Investigation
While two suspects are now in custody, police are still pursuing the third accomplice. Authorities have vowed to bring every person connected to the crime to justice and are urging the public to assist with any credible information.
Families of the victims are devastated, and the university community is in mourning. The crime has reignited national conversations about student safety, landlord-tenant relationships, and the troubling rise in targeted abductions in Nigeria’s higher institutions.
This story is developing. Further updates will follow as the police continue their investigation and search for the remaining suspect.
