A 21-year-old apprentice has been arrested by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for allegedly kidnapping and murdering his former boss, a 60-year-old electrician, before demanding ransom from the victim’s family.

The suspect, identified as Soliu Mujeeb, was apprehended following an investigation into the disappearance of Mr Olarewaju Afolabi in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Speaking while briefing journalists at the NSCDC headquarters in Ilorin on Sunday, the State Commandant, Abbas Mohammed, said Afolabi left his residence on June 7 to inspect an electrical installation project but never returned home.

According to him, concerns over the victim’s whereabouts prompted his family to report the matter to the NSCDC Tracking Unit on June 11 after repeated efforts to reach him failed.

Mohammed disclosed that shortly after Afolabi’s disappearance, his relatives began receiving calls demanding a ransom of N2m from the victim’s phone line. He said the family eventually raised and paid N120,000 following instructions from the caller.

The commandant stated that intelligence gathering, digital tracking and analysis of financial transactions linked to the victim led operatives to the suspect.

He said Mujeeb confessed during interrogation that he had previously worked with the deceased as an assistant in electrical installation jobs and admitted carrying out the crime following a disagreement that resulted in a personal grievance.

According to the NSCDC boss, the suspect allegedly deceived the victim into visiting an uncompleted building in the Kangile area of Kulende, Ilorin, under the pretext of inspecting a new electrical project.

He added that the suspect confessed to attacking and killing Afolabi at the location before taking possession of his mobile phone and SIM card, which were later used to contact family members for ransom payments.

Mohammed further revealed that the suspect led investigators to the scene, where a shallow grave believed to contain the victim’s remains was discovered. The victim’s phone and SIM card were also recovered from the suspect.

He noted that investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further prosecution after the completion of preliminary inquiries.

The commandant reassured residents of the state of the corps’ commitment to tackling crime and safeguarding lives and property, while urging members of the public to continue providing useful information to security agencies.