The prime suspect in the murder of two missing undergraduates of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Femi Oladele, popularly known as Tallex, has died in the hospital, the Ondo State Police Command has confirmed.
Naijaonpoint reports that Oladele, who was arrested earlier this month in connection with the abduction and brutal killing of Andrew Eloho Okah and John Friday Abba, reportedly died shortly after confessing to the crime.
Until his arrest, Oladele was the landlord of the two murdered students. He allegedly orchestrated their abduction and killing, reportedly ordering a gang of suspected cultists to “deal with them” over claims that they were disrespectful to him.
Following weeks of search, the decomposing body of Okah was recently discovered in a shallow grave near the Ondo-Ekiti border, with efforts still ongoing to locate Abba’s remains.
Police sources who spoke with The Nation disclosed that both students were kidnapped, robbed, raped, and killed. Their mysterious disappearance from school and classes had initially prompted concern among classmates.
A police source told The Nation under anonymity that Oladele took ill shortly after he confessed to the crime.
“Tallex (Oladele) is dead. He gave up at the hospital yesterday after making confessions to the police regarding the killings of the Akungba students. I learnt he became sick not long after his arrest,” the source revealed.
Oladele reportedly died at the hospital while still in custody. Two other suspects arrested alongside him remain in detention.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the development in a phone chat on Saturday. He explained that the suspect had been receiving medical attention under police supervision.
“Yes, he’s dead. Following his arrest, the suspect (Oladele) 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,” Ayanlade said.
He added that the decomposing remains of Andrew Okah have been recovered, while search operations for John Abba’s body are ongoing.
Ayanlade further disclosed that two additional suspects, identified as Kola and Michael, have been arrested in connection with the case. The duo allegedly withdrew ₦800,000 from the late Abba’s bank account after his murder.
He assured the public that the Command is committed to pursuing justice.
“We are asking members of the public to disregard any distorted narratives seeking to divert attention from the facts. The Command can assure that justice will be fully pursued and all those involved will be made to face the full weight of the law,” he said.
The police spokesman also noted that security across tertiary institutions in Ondo State has been tightened, with increased patrols, undercover surveillance, and community policing initiatives now in place.
“Although we deeply sympathise with the families, friends, and academic communities of the victims, we remain unwavering in our commitment to justice and public safety,” Ayanlade added.