kThe Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of an Islamic cleric, Mohammed A. Bello, in connection with the gruesome murder of a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, aged 24.
The suspect, a 25-year-old resident of the Offa-Garage area in Ilorin, was apprehended following an investigation that led to the recovery of several incriminating items, including the victim’s body parts and ritual paraphernalia.
Shocking Discovery: Victim’s Body Parts, Blood, and Ritual Tools Recovered
A police statement released on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Kwara Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed that Bello had admitted to the murder. According to her, the killing was carried out as part of a ritual for “Oshole/Ajoo,” a suspected money-making ritual.
Among the items recovered from Bello’s residence were:
- Two mobile phones and slippers belonging to the deceased
- Dismembered body parts (both hands)
- A plastic bottle containing the victim’s blood
- A cutlass, a knife, and an axe
- A wooden box of black soap
- A sack containing charms
- A center table allegedly used in the crime
How the Victim Was Lured and Murdered
According to the police report, Hafsoh had attended a naming ceremony in Ilorin on February 10, 2025. She received a phone call from a friend during the event and left her meal to answer it. She never returned.
When her mother noticed her absence, she contacted Hafsoh’s friends, but they had no information about her whereabouts. Concerned, her father, Mr. Ibrahim A. Lawal, attempted to call her phone multiple times, but his calls went unanswered. The following day, he reported her disappearance at the Oja-Oba Divisional Police Headquarters.
Using forensic tracking, investigators traced Hafsoh’s last call, which led them to Bello’s residence in the Offa Garage area of Ilorin. Upon his arrest, Bello initially denied any involvement. However, a search of his home revealed Hafsoh’s dismembered body in a bowl along with various ritual materials.
Police Investigation and Legal Proceedings
During interrogation, Bello confessed to the crime, admitting that he had killed Hafsoh for ritual purposes. He claimed she had suffered an asthma attack at his home but later admitted to luring her for a ritual killing.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ilorin for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.
Kwara Police Command Calls for Vigilance
The Kwara State Police Command has extended its condolences to the bereaved family, assuring them that justice will be served.
In the statement, the police urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies. They also provided emergency contact numbers for reporting crimes: 07032069501 or 08125275046.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of ritual killings and the need for heightened security awareness in communities.
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