The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the chilling murder of a 39-year-old pregnant woman, Mrs. Esther Enemo, whose dismembered body was discovered in the Temidire community along Egbejila Road, Ilorin, on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement, described the incident as “gruesome and deeply disturbing,” noting that detectives recovered the victim’s mutilated remains dumped in bushes behind her residence, with additional body parts stuffed inside a sack and abandoned beneath a nearby bridge.
The statement revealed that a prime suspect, 29-year-old Sylvester Enemo, the younger brother to the victim’s husband, was arrested after being spotted hastily leaving the house shortly before the horrific discovery. The husband, Mr. Ekene Enemo, has also been contacted for questioning to aid investigations.
> “The Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into this heinous crime. The Command will ensure justice is served and all perpetrators brought to book. We appeal to the public to remain calm and avoid speculations that may incite fear,” Ejire-Adeyemi stated.
The remains of the victim have since been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) morgue for autopsy, as investigators intensify efforts to unravel the motive behind the killing.
While police investigations are ongoing, community members fear that the murder may be linked to ritual practices. Eyewitnesses said Mrs. Enemo was last seen on Wednesday evening purchasing bottles of beer and plates of pepper soup before retiring indoors.
By dawn, neighbours grew suspicious after spotting a man, later identified as her brother-in-law, leaving with a black nylon bag that dripped a red liquid—later confirmed to be blood. A frantic search ensued, leading to the horrifying discovery of dismembered body parts, including limbs and entrails, though the head remains missing.
A resident, who spoke under anonymity, recalled:
> “We found an arm, a leg, and other body parts in the bush, but her head was nowhere to be found. The manner of her killing looks exactly like ritual cases we’ve seen before.”
This latest killing bears chilling similarities to the recent case of Abdulrahman Bello, a self-proclaimed cleric, who murdered a female student, Yetunde Lawal, for ritual purposes in Ilorin.
The murder has plunged the serene Temidire community into shock, sparking fears of a resurgence of ritual killings in Kwara State. Residents, visibly shaken, expressed anger and unease, with some warning that the incident could inflame long-standing ethnic tensions within the area.
Meanwhile, police authorities have reassured the public of reinforced security measures across the state, urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that may aid ongoing investigations.
> “The Kwara State Police Command remains steadfast in its resolve to safeguard lives and ensure that peace and justice prevail in our communities,” Ejire-Adeyemi reaffirmed.
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