Kogi Graduate Killed with Shovel as Police Arrest Three Ex-Convicts, Recover Stolen Tricycle

The Kogi State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the brutal killing of a young graduate in Lokoja, recovering the victim’s stolen tricycle and additional motorcycles linked to the suspects.

The command’s spokesperson, Afusat Saliu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, revealing that the suspects were apprehended on March 25 at Otokiti Estate in Lokoja following a coordinated investigation.

According to the police, two of the suspects allegedly posed as construction workers to lure the unsuspecting victim to a secluded location, where he was attacked and killed with a shovel. After committing the crime, the assailants reportedly fled with the victim’s tricycle.

The victim had earlier been declared missing by his family on March 18 after he left home with his tricycle and failed to return. His lifeless body was discovered the following day, March 19, around the CBN Zone 8 area in Lokoja, triggering a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Saliu explained that sustained investigative efforts led to the arrest of the two principal suspects, who reportedly confessed to the killing during interrogation. The suspects further revealed that they had sold the stolen tricycle to a third accomplice.

Acting on this information, police operatives tracked down and arrested the third suspect in Anyigba, located in Dekina Local Government Area, where the stolen tricycle was recovered. In addition to the tricycle, the police also recovered four other motorcycles believed to have been stolen, suggesting a wider pattern of criminal activity.

Further investigation by the command uncovered that all three suspects are ex-convicts, previously linked to multiple cases of murder and armed robbery, raising concerns about recidivism and public safety.

The police spokesperson confirmed that the suspects have since been charged to court, while assuring residents of the command’s continued commitment to tackling violent crime and ensuring justice for victims.

The incident has sparked renewed concern among residents over security in parts of Lokoja and surrounding areas, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within the state.