Retired Federal Controller of Works Murdered by Suspected Assassins on New Year’s Day

A retired federal controller of works, AbdulRazaq Ajani, was tragically murdered on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, in Ilorin, Kwara State, shortly after returning from a trip to Offa, where he had spent the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Ajani, a former civil servant at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, was reportedly attacked by four young men who are believed to have followed him from Offa to Ilorin. The brutal incident took place around 3 p.m. on Dele Gege Street, in the Aderoju area of Tanke, a district in Ilorin.

According to family members, the assailants entered Ajani’s compound shortly after he had driven in with his family. The men, described as aged between 18 and 22, appeared casually in CCTV footage from the scene. Two of them were seen standing near the gate, while the other two walked into the compound. One of the men was seen sipping water from a plastic bottle, adding to the chilling nature of the attack.

Ajani, who had retired as a federal officer about four years ago but had accepted a contract appointment last year, reportedly spotted the attackers from a sitting room and went to the door to meet them. It was said that the men engaged him in a brief conversation before suddenly attacking him. Witnesses, including family members, recounted seeing Ajani fall face down as the assailants struck him with what appeared to be small axes. The attackers quickly fled the scene after completing their deadly task, leaving the family in shock.

The murder was only discovered after the family’s screams alerted neighbors, and the police were subsequently notified. Ajani’s remains were removed from the scene by authorities.

As of now, the state police command has not issued an official statement on the incident.