The primary suspect in the murder of two students from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, has reportedly died under mysterious circumstances while in police detention.
The deceased suspect, identified as Femi Oladele and popularly known as ‘Tallex,’ was the landlord of the slain undergraduates, 25-year-old Andrew Eloho Okah and 19-year-old John Friday Abba.
Both victims were second-year students at the university, enrolled in the Department of History and International Studies and the Department of Economics, respectively.
Tallex was apprehended alongside two others in connection with a string of violent crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, and the murder of the two students.
His arrest followed the grim discovery of one of the victims’ decomposing remains buried in a shallow grave within a forest located on the boundary between Ondo and Ekiti States.
Following his arrest, Tallex reportedly confessed to killing Okah, citing the student’s alleged disrespectful behavior as the motive behind the crime.
However, shortly after his confession, Tallex is said to have taken ill in detention.
According to multiple sources, the illness was sudden and unusual, and despite being rushed to a hospital, he eventually died.
One source said, “He (Tallex) is dead. We were told that he died after falling sick. But what we are still not sure is the actual time and date of his death. We have been hearing that he died about a week ago. But the police is saying that he died yesterday (Friday). It is confusing. Also, some police officers hinted us that he died in the cell and we are hearing another narrative that Tallex died in a hospital. We are actually don’t know what is happening.”
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the suspect’s death through its spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, who noted that Tallex had been receiving medical attention prior to his demise.
“Oladele (Tallex) had been in and out of the hospital under close medical supervision and was receiving adequate care before he died in the early hours of yesterday (Friday),” Ayanlade said.
He also provided an update on the ongoing investigation, “As of now, the decomposing remains of Okah have been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to locate Abba’s body. We are asking members of the public to disregard any distorted narratives seeking to divert attention from the facts and the Command can assured that justice will be fully pursued and all those involved will be made to face the full weight of the law.”
Despite the suspect’s death, authorities have pledged to continue the investigation to ensure all individuals involved in the heinous crimes are brought to justice.
