Police arrest Aregbesola’s ex-aide for 29-year-old lover’s death

The police in Osun State have arrested a former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Mr. Bode Olugbore, after a 29-year-old woman, Kemi Arobieke, was allegedly found dead in his apartment.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Kemi, who the family claimed was Olugbore’s lover, was found dead in the ex-SSA’s apartment on Saturday, August 8.

Our correspondents gathered that Kemi, an event planner, came from Lagos to visit Olugbore in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Thursday, August 6, and promised to return on Saturday.

It was learnt that Kemi’s family, however, got a call on Sunday that the lady had been electrocuted in the ex-SSA’s apartment, and her corpse had been deposited in a mortuary.

It was gathered that the matter was reported at the Dada Police Division, and policemen from the station removed the corpse from the apartment.

It was learnt that the ex-SSA was arrested thereafter.

The deceased’s elder brother, Ayoola, who confirmed the death of his sister to our correspondents on the telephone on Tuesday said Kemi had known Olugbore for about four years, but the family initially did not know about their relationship.

He said he, Kemi and Olugbore were members of the same church in Lagos, adding that her sister told the family that the suspect had separated from his wife, who had three children for him.

He said, “My sister travelled to Osogbo and she was supposed to return to Lagos on Saturday, but we got a call from the police that she was involved in an accident and it was very serious.

“When we got to Osogbo, the police prevented us from seeing her, but told us that she had been electrocuted by an electric fan, but it is unbelievable.”

Ayoola, said the explanation sounded illogical as there were no traces of burn either on her body or on the fan.

He said, “However, we are waiting for the outcome of the autopsy which was done on Saturday. We have known Bode (Olugbore) for a while. He works with the Osun State Government. Kemi was also gainfully employed, having finished from the university.

“We were made to understand that she was electrocuted in the apartment by a standing fan. That is very hard for me to understand. The police showed us the fan, and it seemed to be working fine. It was not burnt. The socket was not burnt. So, it is suspicious that she was electrocuted. The current in a fan is not enough to kill except one has direct contact with a live wire. The marks on her body suggested something contrary.

“Right now, everyone is waiting for answers from the autopsy. We know that the man has been arrested by the police.”

Our correspondents gathered that Olugbore’s lawyer’s said the ex-SSA was not in his apartment at the time of the incident, adding that Kemi’s death was a domestic accident.

When our correspondent called the ex-SSA’s phone number, the calls did not connect.

The Arobieke’s family lawyer, identified only as Olayiwola, told our correspondents that the result of the autopsy was with the police, adding that both families would be invited by the police.

The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Folashade Odoro, confirmed the arrest. She added that investigation was ongoing on the matter.

She said, “I don’t know about who is involved, but the suspect has been arrested by the police. Investigation is also ongoing on the matter. When things like this happen, the first suspect is the owner of the apartment. So, he was arrested immediately.”

The governor’s media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, when contacted declined to comment on the matter.

He said, “It is a police matter. You can get accurate information about whatever happened from the police.”

Boko Haram kills 60 in Yobe village

Over 60 persons have been killed by Boko Haram fighters in Kukuwa – Gari in Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday, the spokesman for the Yobe State Police Command, Mr. Toyin Gbadegesin, confirmed the attack. But he did not give the casualty figure.

He said, “I can confirm that there was an attack at Kukuwa village and the police and other security operatives were able to repel the Boko Haram attackers. We are not aware of the high death toll.”

But a member of the local vigilance group, Abubakar Aliyu, told our correspondent that over 60 people lost their lives in the attack.

He said most of the victims were shot dead by the sect fighters, while some drowned in a river while they were fleeing from their attackers.

He said, “Most of the villagers were drowned in the river which was flooded by the downpour while others were shot dead by the terrorists. The terrorists invaded Kukuwa-Gari village and its environs on motorcycles and trucks and started shooting at every possible target.

“Some of us in the local vigilance group and some security officials could not withstand the Boko Haram terrorists’ firepower as they were over 50 and were heavily armed.”

Aliyu said they were forced to go into hiding and when they finally came out they counted 60 corpses, adding that most the victims were found at the river bank.

Another resident of the area, Kashim Mohammed, who narrowly escaped being killed in the attack, said the death toll had risen beyond 60, insisting that many more corpses were seen at the river bank after the initial count on Friday.

He said, “I was able to hide in the bush for two days, when I came out, many dead bodies which is far more than 60 were seen close to the river bank. Most of us could not communicate with people in Damaturu, the state capital, because telecommunication masks have been blown off by the insurgents.”

Yobe State had suffered a series of attacks from insurgents in the past and President Muhammadu Buhari had given a new charge to the military to end insurgency in three months.