The Vanguard Newspaper has reported via its official X handle that the Nigerian Police have recovered ritual items, including a horn, black soap, and charms, from the residence of a suspect accused of murdering Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student in Kwara State.
Speaking at a special prayer session held in her honor, Yetunde’s father, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal, insisted that the recovered items confirm his daughter was murdered for ritual purposes. The grieving father called on authorities to ensure justice is served.
The prayer session, held on Saturday at Adefalu Compound in Ojuekun, Ilorin West Local Government Area, was led by Imam Alabidun, a respected Islamic scholar. The cleric prayed for the repose of Yetunde’s soul and urged the family to accept the tragic loss as the will of Allah. He also declared that those responsible for the heinous crime would face divine judgment both in this life and the hereafter.
According to reports, Yetunde, who had recently secured a teaching job at a private nursery and primary school, attended a naming ceremony in her neighborhood when she received a call from a Facebook friend, Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello. Unknown to her, it was a call that would lead to her untimely death.
Her father recounted the chilling events leading to her disappearance:
> “She returned from work around 12:30 pm on Monday and left to attend a friend’s naming ceremony. She later told her friends she was going to visit someone. When she didn’t return home that night, we became worried. After 24 hours, we reported her missing at the Oja-Oba Police Station. Tracking her phone revealed she was last in contact with the suspect, who eventually confessed to killing her.”
The suspect, a 29-year-old Islamic teacher and cleric residing in the Olunlade area of Ilorin South Local Government, initially claimed Yetunde had died from an asthma attack. However, under police interrogation, he later admitted to murdering her.
A Family’s Cry for Justice
Alhaji Lawal expressed disbelief over his daughter’s relationship with the suspect, stating that the man he knew as her suitor was already making plans to formalize their marriage.
> “About fifteen days ago, I asked Yetunde to tell her suitor to bring his family for marriage discussions. I never knew she was in contact with this suspect.”
Demanding justice, he called on the Nigerian Police, the Emir of Ilorin, and the entire nation to ensure the case is handled with transparency.
> “All I want is justice. Let this case be thoroughly investigated so that people will learn lessons, and society will be free of such dangerous individuals.”
Yetunde, who recently completed her National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Chemistry and Integrated Science, had her promising future cruelly cut short. The suspect, now in police custody, faces prosecution as Nigerians call for swift and decisive justice in her case.
This tragic incident has reignited concerns over the rising cases of ritual killings in Nigeria, with citizens urging law enforcement agencies to intensify their fight against such inhumane acts.
PIONEER NEWS 