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Police probe killing of Catholic priest in Kogi
๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police probe killing of Catholic priest in Kogi

From Vanguard · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Kogi State Police are investigating the killing of Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi.
  • His body was found on July 29 in Ajaokuta Local Government Area and has been taken for autopsy.
  • The state's Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department to identify and prosecute those responsible.

The Kogi State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the death of Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi, whose body was discovered on July 29 in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area. Police operatives responded swiftly to a report of the incident, recovering the body and confirming the death at a local hospital.

The deceased has been identified as Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi of St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, in the Ijumu Local Government Area. Following the initial recovery and medical confirmation, the body was transferred to a mortuary for preservation and an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The directive is aimed at unravelling the circumstances surrounding the incident, identifying all persons connected with the crime and ensuring that those found culpable are brought to justice.

โ€” ASP Afusat SaliuPolice Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, explaining the purpose of the investigation transfer.

Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case for a detailed and professional inquiry. The objective is to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing, identify all individuals connected to the crime, and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The police spokesperson urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could jeopardize the ongoing investigation. Authorities assured the family of the deceased, the Catholic community, and the general public that all necessary efforts would be made to achieve justice in this case.

The command also assured the family of the deceased, the Catholic faithful and the general public that no effort would be spared to ensure that justice was served.

โ€” ASP Afusat SaliuPolice Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, reassuring the public about the commitment to justice.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.