The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of an Islamic cleric, Mohammed A. Bello, over the gruesome murder of Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, a 24-year-old final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education. The suspect, aged 25 and residing in the Offa-Garage area of Ilorin, was apprehended after police investigations uncovered chilling evidence linking him to the crime.
The arrest followed the discovery of Yetunde’s dismembered body parts, along with a shocking array of ritual items at Bello’s residence. Among the items recovered were:
Two mobile phones and slippers belonging to the victim
Both severed hands of the deceased
A plastic bottle containing her blood
A cutlass, knife, and axe
A wooden box of black soap
A sack filled with charms
A center table allegedly used for the ritual murder
According to the police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Bello confessed to the murder, revealing that it was carried out as part of a ritual for “Oshole/Ajoo”—a suspected money-making sacrifice.
In an official statement released on Sunday, Ejire-Adeyemi detailed how the victim’s father, Mr. Ibrahim A. Lawal, reported her missing at the Oja-Oba Division on February 11, 2025. Hafsoh had attended a naming ceremony on February 10 at 2:00 PM but never returned home. After failed attempts to reach her, her distraught family contacted the police.
Police investigators traced her last known phone activity, leading them straight to Mohammed Bello. Upon his arrest and interrogation, Bello confessed to the crime, detailing how he lured Hafsoh into his trap.
Sources revealed that Bello had connected with Yetunde on Facebook before obtaining her phone number. On the fateful day, he reportedly called her while she was at the ceremony. She left her meal to answer the call—and was never seen alive again.
Investigators found Yetunde’s mutilated body inside a bowl at Bello’s residence, along with various ritual paraphernalia. Initially, Bello claimed she had died of an asthma attack at his home, but overwhelming forensic evidence contradicted his story.
The Kwara State Police Command has transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ilorin for further investigation and prosecution.
Expressing condolences to the victim’s family, the police assured the public that justice will be served. They also urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
For emergencies, the command provided the following contact numbers:
📞 07032069501 or 08125275046
This horrifying incident underscores the growing menace of ritual killings in Nigeria, raising urgent questions about security, youth vulnerability, and the dangers lurking behind seemingly innocent online interactions.
PIONEER NEWS 