Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC has arrested a 21-year-old suspect, Soliu Mujeeb, over the alleged kidnapping and murder of a 60-year-old electrical technician, Olarewaju Afolabi, in Ilorin.
The State Commandant, Abbas Mohammed, disclosed this on Sunday while briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Ilorin on the outcome of an intensive investigation into the victim’s disappearance.
According to the Commandant, Afolabi left his residence on June 7, 2026, to inspect an electrical installation project but failed to return home, which prompted concern among family members whoreported the case to the NSCDC Tracking Unit on June 11 after repeated efforts to reach him proved unsuccessful.
The Commandant explained that shortly after the victim’s disappearance, members of his family began receiving ransom demands of N2 million from his mobile phone, but the family reportedly managed to raise and pay N120,000 as instructed by the caller.
Operatives were said to have launched an intelligence-driven investigation, which involved digital tracking and analysis of financial transactions linked to the victim’s account, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and admitted that he had previously worked with the deceased as an assistant in electrical installation services.
He reportedly revealed that a disagreement between them had resulted in a personal grudge.
Investigators said the suspect lured the victim to an uncompleted building in the Kangile area of Kunlende, Ilorin the Kwara State capital, under the pretext of inspecting a new electrical project.
The suspect further confessed to attacking and killing the victim at the location before taking possession of his mobile phone and SIM card, which were later used to demand ransom from the victim’s family.
According to the NSCDC, the suspect subsequently led operatives to the scene of the crime, where a shallow grave believed to contain the victim’s remains was discovered.
The Kwara NSCDC Command stated that investigations are still ongoing and that the suspect will be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further action upon conclusion of preliminary inquiries.
