Brother of murdered Oyo hotelier Olugbenga Owolabi flees with family over alleged threats

Ayorinde Owolabi, brother of the murdered Oyo hotelier Olugbenga Owolabi, has said that his life and that of his family is under threat.

Olugbenga, a US citizen, was abducted and killed in August 2022 when he returned to Nigeria to invest in the hospitality business in his hometown in Ogbomoso.

On December 23, 2022, the Oyo State Police Command said it arrested three men allegedly responsible for the abduction and murder of the hotelier.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on July 30, Ayorinde said his family was forced to flee their house at Moniya in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State shortly after the killing of his brother.

The 66-year-old said he and his family members fled their home in November last year after several threats.

He said, “Since the killing of my brother, it has not been easy for my family to be without threats daily. There are threats to myself, my children and any contact found on the phone collected during the negotiations. I had to abandon my house; my family is scattered within Ibadan and some other parts of Oyo State.

“I am a retired director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Quality Control, Oyo State. I am also a farmer and realtor, but I couldn’t stay in my office. I can’t move freely, and do my work. I had to run away.

“The culprits who confessed to the kidnap and killing of my brother were caught near my house and the police refused to take them to court for prosecution.”

Ayorinde pleaded with the government to intervene and that the police should get to the root of the matter.

“The police should also come out with reports on the case, so we can know exactly what they are doing or plan to do; if the three suspects are still in Ibadan or have been taken to Abuja,” he said.