Police uncover shallow grave of missing LASU graduate, nab fourth suspect

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the burial location of Adedamola Ogunbode, a Lagos State University (LASU) graduate, following the arrest of the primary suspect, Olaoluwa Ajisomo.  

Initially rumored to have fled to the Benin Republic, Ajisomo is now in police custody and assisting detectives in pinpointing the exact site where Ogunbode was buried.

Confirming the development, the command’s spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that both the arrest and ongoing investigation had been verified, as reported by News360 Nigeria.

Ogunbode, a Political Science Education graduate, had been missing since January 16, 2025, with unconfirmed reports suggesting that his mutilated remains had been found.

Last F,riday, the Lagos State Police Command announced the arrest of three suspects and the ongoing search for five others connected to the murder of a 2024 graduate.

Among those arrested was Whepetoji Sunday, a pastor who allegedly received N70,000 from the victim’s account, and Sheriff Adebayo, a church member accused of receiving N300,000.

News360 Nigeria reports that the mother of the prime suspect, Omolara Ajisomo, was also arrested.

She allegedly assisted her children, Teniola and Olaoluwa Ajisomo, in fleeing after each reportedly received N300,000 from the victim’s account.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case after the students’ union threatened to organise a statewide protest.

Regarding the arrest of the prime suspect, Hundeyin revealed that he was apprehended on Monday morning in the Alakuko area of the state.

Hundeyin further stated that the suspect was responsible for emptying Ogunbode’s bank account using the victim’s mobile phone.

“The principal suspect, Olaoluwa Ajisomo, was arrested yesterday (Monday) morning at the Alakuko area. He was the one who cleared the victim’s bank account through the victim’s mobile phone,” he said.

However, Hundeyin clarified that the grave was not located within the church premises, contrary to speculation on social media.

He added that the church where the arrested cleric worshipped had been sealed off by the police following intelligence reports of a planned arson in retaliation.

He added, “The shallow grave is not around the church premises, but it is there in the community. The church was sealed following intelligence reports that some people planned to burn it out of vengeance, and we do not want that to happen.”

Meanwhile, a source involved in the investigation informed our correspondent that police detectives were en route to exhume the victim from a shallow grave.

The source said, “I just received information that the newly arrested suspect has confessed to killing the LASU graduate, and the police are on their way to the burial site.”

When our correspondent sought confirmation from Hundeyin, he responded with a single word, “Confirmed.”