A retired Controller of Works at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, AbdulRazaq Ajani, was tragically murdered in Ilorin, Kwara State, on New Year's Day. The incident occurred shortly after Ajani returned from his holiday trip in Offa, Kwara State.

The attack reportedly took place around 3 p.m. at Dele Gege Street, Aderoju area, off Obafemi Awolowo Road in the Tanke area of Ilorin. According to family sources, the assailants appeared to have trailed Ajani from Offa to his residence.

A family member recounted the shocking moment when the attackers casually entered the compound moments after Ajani and his immediate family had arrived home.

Local authorities are investigating the incident, which has left the community in shock and mourning.

The family member 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.

“They appeared to be engaging him in a discussion until he was suddenly 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 Police men have visited the scene for investigation”, the witnesses said.

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 Ajani was hacked by the assassins.

The civil engineer 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.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Kwara Police Command, DSP Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, confirmed the incident to PUNCH correspondent on Thursday.

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 Tanke area yesterday. Police have waded into the incident and have commenced investigation on it.”

Asked if any arrest has been made, the PPRO said that no suspect has been arrested but investigation has commenced.