How we killed Oshiomhole’s aide - suspects

A careless statement by the security guard to Olaitan Oyerinde, the late Principal Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, attracted criminals who eventually killed the deceased; the State Security Service (SSS) says.

“Careless statements made by Ali Ihade, the security guard of the late Oyerinde, at various times about his master's position in government, attracted the attention of the prime suspect, Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullahi,” the SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, said on Tuesday while parading six suspects found culpable in the murder.

Mr. Oyerinde was killed in his house in Benin, Edo state on May 4.

The suspects are Mohammed Abdullahi, Raymond Origbo, Chikezie Edeh (who claimed to be a deportee from France), Saidu Yakubu (aka Imam), Sani Abubakar and Hassan Bashiru.

Ms. Ogar listed some of the items stolen from the deceased as four Blackberry phones, one ipad, two galaxy pads, one laptop, a wedding ring, and an unspecified sum of money belonging to Oyerinde's brother-in-law, Adeyinka Oletubo.”

The SSS deputy director stated that three of the suspects were directly responsible for the murder while the other three associates are “habitual buyers of stolen items.”

“Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde was murdered in cold blood by the trio of Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullahi, Raymond Onajite Origbo, and Chikezie Edeh,” she said.

“On the day of the robbery, Abdullahi specifically instructed other gang members to tie up Ihade before they entered Comrade Oyerinde's residence so that Ihade will not see his face.

Ms. Ogar explained that Mr. Oyerinde was shot and killed by the prime suspect, Mohammed Abdullahi, when the deceased ran into his bedroom and attempted to go underneath his bed.

“Abdullahi said he believed Comrade Oyerinde was reaching out for a gun under the bed and therefore shot him,” she said.

She said the murder weapons, comprising three guns, used during the robbery have been recovered; while the suspects would be handed to the police for prosecution.

My colleague killed Oyerinde

A mild drama was added to the killing of Mr. Oyerinde when one of the suspects claimed that while he only shot the deceased, his partner in crime did the actual killing.

“I am not the one who killed him (Oyerinde). I only pulled the trigger when the man ran to his bedroom,” Mr. Origbo said. “Abdullahi went back to the man's window and shot three times saying he thought he was trying to bring out a gun underneath his bed.”

The killing of Mr. Oyerinde heated the political atmosphere in Edo, as Mr. Oshiomhole accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party of masterminding the murder.