By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

A retired Controller of work at the Federal Ministry of Work and Housing, AbdulRazaq Ajani, was brutally murdered on New Year’s day, (Wednesday, January 1, 2025) in Ilorin, the state capital, shortly after returning home from his trip to Offa, Kwara state, where he celebrated Christmas and New year festivities with his family members

Vanguard Correspondent reliably gathered that Ajani was said to have been attacked by his assailants who allegedly tracked him to his residence after the yuletide celebrations.

The incident occurred at about 3 p.m. at Dele Gege Street, Aderoju area, off Awolowo Road in the Tanke Area of Ilorin the State capital.

Family members who spoke with journalists at the residence a few hours after the sad incident narrated how the assassins casually entered Ajani’s compound moments after he drove in with his immediate family members.

The family member who craved anonymity said, “Four young men between 18 and 22 years old, it was not clear how the assassins arrived in the area.

“A review of CCTV camera recordings showed two of them standing beside the gate of Mr Ajani’s residence, one of them sipping water from a plastic bottle, while the two others strolled into the compound.

“On noticing the young men from one of the two sitting rooms on the ground floor of the one-storey duplex building, the retired federal officer reportedly rose to meet them at the main door.

“Sensing danger,he was about to quickly ran back and shut the door against his attackers but it was too late,as they rushed at him and blocked him from shutting the door.

“They appeared to be engaging him in a discussion before one of the attackers started axing him on the head in no fewer than ten times until he was suddenly seen lying face down on the ground.,” said one of the family members describing what he saw on the CCTV.

The immediate family members reportedly watched in horror as the assassins hacked their father with what looked like small axes.

“Their gruesome task accomplished, the assassins swiftly fled the scene before the howlings of the family members drew the attention of neighbours.

“The late engineer was attacked and hacked to death in the presence of his wife and children immediately on arrival from Offa where he went for the Christmas and New Year break.

“If you get to his house, there are blood stains on the walls while his brain is also scattered on the floor.

“Many people have besieged the residence of the man sympathizing with the wife and the children while a team of Policemen have visited the scene for investigation”, the witnesses said.

Vanguard Correspondent however gathered that the CCTV cameras on the main gate which would have clearly captured the assailant’s faces, unknown to the victim and his family had been removed long before the Wednesday attack.

It was only the CCTV camera inside which was still there that was able to capture the scenarios as watched on the cameras.

Vanguard Correspondent also gathered that the late late retired Controller at federal ministry of works had two wives and was with the young wife and the children when the tragic incident occurred.

When this reporter arrived at the house after the incident, the police had evacuated the body and left.

A few mourners and some family members sat in the main sitting room, a few metres from the blood-splattered corridor where Mr. Ajani was hacked by the assassins.

A civil engineer, Mr Ajani retired from the Federal Ministry of Works about four years ago but was said to have accepted a contract appointment at the ministry last year.

Neighbours in the street spoke glowingly of him and his wife, who owns a popular confectionery, Reo Cakes, in Ilorin.

Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara Police Command, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun (DSP) confirmed the incident.

Ejire-Adeyemi said, “Yes, the incident happened. I can confirm to you that there was a report that a retired controller of works was killed in the Tanke area yesterday. Police have waded into the incident and have commenced investigation on it.”