By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, ONDO
One month after the shocking assassination of prominent businessman Alhaji Sumaila Awoyinka in Ore, Ondo State, the police have arrested a prime suspect linked to the gruesome murder, recovering a locally-made pistol and charms from his hideout.
The suspect, identified simply as Ijalo, was apprehended on April 10 following a discreet manhunt by detectives of the Ondo State Police Command. According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the arrest marks a major breakthrough in the high-profile case that has unsettled residents and sparked public outrage.
Awoyinka, a well-known building materials dealer, was shot at close range shortly after returning from the mosque during the Ramadan fast. The attack occurred at his residence in the Idi Mango area of Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, sending shockwaves across the community.
“The Ondo State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the murder case of late Alhaji Awoyinka Sumaila, who was gruesomely killed in his residence in Ore on March 1st,” Olayinka said.
“The prime suspect, one Ijalo, was apprehended after a painstaking investigation and manhunt. During a search of his premises, a locally-made pistol believed to have been used in the crime, along with criminal charms, were recovered.”
He further stated that the suspect was traced to Ore after initial intelligence suggested he had fled the state and was residing in Osogbo.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Wilfred Afolabi, praised the efforts of the officers and assured residents that the command is intensifying its crackdown on criminal elements.
“We will not rest until every suspect connected to violent crimes in Ondo is brought to justice. Our operations remain focused on intelligence and community-driven policing,” Afolabi said.
The murder of Awoyinka adds to a worrying trend of targeted killings of high-profile individuals, including businessmen and hoteliers in Ondo, which Daily Trust had previously reported in a special feature that prompted renewed security attention.
The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation, while the police say further investigations are ongoing to identify other possible accomplices in the crime.