THE Kwara State police command has paraded members of a seven-man robbery gang for the alleged murder of an Ilorin-based medical practitioner, Dr. Ariyo Adewumi, in April this year.

The names of the suspects were given as Adewumi Kayode (36), Abiodun Abdulmalik Ojulari (32) and Akeem Afolabi (31).

The late medical doctor, who was  a staff of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) was attacked and shot dead at his residence at Basin Area, Ilorin on April 18, 2013 by unknown gunmen.

Items recovered from the hoodlums include double-barrel pistol, one live cartridge and one Blackberry Bold 2 smartphone.

Parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Ilorin, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Fabode (DSP), said the motive for the murder of the medical practitioner was purely robbery.

"The armed hoodlums also ransacked the deceased's house and made away with valuable items such as a Honda Accord car with registration number AAA 68AU belonging to the deceased's wife, two Blackberry smart phones, one Samsung Galaxy tablet, Plasma TV set, sound system, jewelries and other valuable items.

"In the course of investigation by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), one of the stolen phones belonging to the deceased was traced to be in use and it was later recovered from a lady using it. The arrested suspects confessed to belonging to a seven-man armed robbery gang and that the three of them with two other members i.e Olatide Oladapo aka Dapson and one Seun particiaped in the robbery and killing of the deceased.

"Olatide Oladapo has been arrested and he is presently in police custody in Oyo state in connection with other armed robbery cases, while Seun is still at large.

"Intense efforts are still being made to track down the receiver of the stolen vehicle with a view to recovering it with other stolen items," he said.

The PPRO also said that all members of the gang "have been identified as notorious criminals and have been linked to various armed robbery escapades in Ilorin."

Speaking with reporters, Ojulari, who claimed to be a graduate of Physics from Uthman Dan Fodio University, confessed to have participated in the crime.

He however said that he did not pull the trigger that killed the late doctor.

"Our intention that day was to go out and snatch cars. Unfortunately, Seun who is still at large shot the man. I don't know why he pulled the trigger. Lack of finance forced me into robbery," the robbery suspect said.

Another suspect, Adewumi Kayode, also confessed to holding a national diploma certificate in Business Administration from Kwara State Polytechnic, and corroborated the statement of his comrade-at-arms.