By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the death of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro, whose body was found by the roadside in Ajaokuta Local Government Area.Rev. Fr. Oyetoro, a native of Ayetoro in Ijumu Local Government Area, served at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Egbe, in Yagba West Local Government Area.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Oyiza Salihu, said officers received a report on July 29, 2026, at about 9:30 a.m. that the body of an unidentified man had been discovered along Church Road in Ajaokuta.
According to the police, officers who responded to the scene observed that the deceased had sustained severe machete injuries to the head. The body was evacuated to ASCL Hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed the death before it was deposited in a mortuary for an autopsy.The police said the deceased was later identified as Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi of St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area.
The command said investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify those responsible. It added that the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) after the preliminary investigation.The incident has drawn condolences from members of the Catholic community and residents of Kogi State.
