Ilorin—AbdulRazaq Ajani, a retired controller of Works at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, was tragically killed on New Year’s Day in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Reports indicate that Ajani was assaulted shortly after returning home from a trip to Offa, Kwara State, where he celebrated the Christmas holiday with his family.
Our Correspondent learned that the attack occurred around 3 p.m. when assailants tracked Ajani to his home on Dele Gege Street, Aderoju area, off Awolowo Road in the Tanke district of Ilorin.
Family members recounted to journalists how the attackers entered Ajani’s compound shortly after he arrived with his immediate family. A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assailants as four young men, estimated to be between 18 and 22 years old, who arrived in a suspicious manner.
CCTV footage revealed two of the assailants standing by the gate of Ajani’s residence, with one of them casually drinking water from a plastic bottle, while the other two walked into the compound.
Upon noticing the intruders from one of the ground-floor sitting rooms of his one-storey duplex, Ajani reportedly approached the door to confront them. However, sensing imminent danger, he attempted to retreat and secure the door, but it was too late. The assailants cornered him and engaged him in a brief conversation before one of them began to strike him repeatedly with an axe. He was attacked over ten times before collapsing face down on the ground.
After completing their brutal act, the attackers fled the scene before the distressed screams of Ajani’s family could alert nearby residents.
The late engineer was fatally attacked in front of his wife and children, just after returning from his holiday in Offa. Disturbingly, blood stains were visible on the walls, while his remains lay scattered on the floor.
Numerous sympathizers have since gathered at the family’s residence to offer support, as a police team arrived to investigate the incident.
Interestingly, it was discovered that the CCTV cameras at the main gate, which could have captured clear images of the assailants, had been removed prior to the attack. Only the interior surveillance camera remained operational, providing some visual evidence of the unfortunate event.
Sources indicate that the retired controller was married to two wives and was with his younger wife and their children during the incident.
Upon arriving at the scene, this reporter found that police had already evacuated the body.
When contacted, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kwara Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating, “Yes, the incident happened. I can confirm that there was a report of a retired controller of works being killed in the Tanke area yesterday. The police have intervened and launched an investigation into the matter.”
