In a shocking and heart-wrenching incident that has left residents of Ilorin, Kwara State in utter disbelief, a 17-year-old boy identified as Malik has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his stepmother, Mrs. Falilat Yusuf—popularly known in the community as Iya Ganiyat—to death.
The gruesome attack occurred around 2 p.m. on Friday in the Danialu area of Gaa Akanbi, throwing the serene neighborhood into chaos. Eyewitnesses described the killing as brutal, senseless, and deeply disturbing, leaving residents shaken and struggling to process the horror.
According to reports, Malik stormed the residence of the 45-year-old victim—who shared a polygamous marriage with his mother—and launched a vicious assault, stabbing her multiple times in the neck. The attack, allegedly unprovoked, left Mrs. Yusuf in a pool of blood as the suspect fled the scene.
One of the deceased’s sons, Teslim, gave a chilling account of the aftermath.
“I saw Malik loitering near our compound, making strange hand signs. The moment we locked eyes, he bolted. When I rushed inside, I found my mother lying lifeless, soaked in blood. I screamed for help,” he said.
Teslim added that Malik returned shortly afterward, bizarrely wearing a different outfit but with visible bloodstains on his shoes—evidence that prompted enraged neighbors to overpower and detain him before handing him over to the police.
SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, confirmed the arrest. She revealed that the suspect was saved from a near-lynching by angry residents who had raised the alarm following the horrific act.
“Thanks to the swift response of vigilant community members and our officers, the suspect is now in custody. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind this heinous crime,” she said.
Local sources further alleged that Malik had a history of troublesome behavior and had previously been warned to stay away from the compound due to suspected cases of theft.
Speaking to Sobi FM, a resident noted, “Malik didn’t live with the deceased; he stayed in another apartment rented by their shared husband. He had been banned from coming near the house, but he returned with deadly intent.”
Community members also claimed that Malik confessed to the murder, citing long-standing personal grievances with the deceased as his motive.
Mrs. Falilat Yusuf was laid to rest over the weekend in accordance with Islamic burial rites. Her death has sparked conversations about safety, domestic tensions in polygamous households, and the mental well-being of troubled youths.
As police continue their investigations, the community remains gripped by grief, demanding justice for the slain woman.
PIONEER NEWS 