Police Confirm Arrest Of Islamic Cleric For Murder Of Kwara College Student, Recover Dismembered Body Parts, Victim’s Blood, Axe, Others
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.
The 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.
However, the items include two mobile phones and the slippers of the deceased, dismembered body parts (both hands), a plastic bottle containing the victim’s blood, a cutlass, a knife, an axe, a wooden box of black soap, a sack containing charms, and a centre table allegedly used in the crime.
In a statement released on Sunday, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, spokesperson for the Kwara Command, confirmed that Bello admitted to the murder. She stated that it was carried out as part of a ritual for “Oshole/Ajoo,” a suspected money-making ritual.
The statement reads, “On February 11, 2025, at about 1800hrs, Mr Ibrahim A. Lawal ‘M’ of Adefalu’s Compound, Oju-Ekun Area, Ilorin, reported at the divisional police headquarters C-Division Oja-Oba; that his daughter, Yetunde Lawal, had attended the naming ceremony of her friend’s baby not far from their place of residence, the previous day February 10, 2025, at about 1400hrs but never returned home.
“Concerned about her whereabouts, her mother contacted some of her friends, but no useful information was obtained. When her father was informed, he made several attempts to call her phone numbers, but the calls went unanswered.”
Adetoun explained that tracking her phone number led to the arrest of Abdulrahman M. Bello.
It further reads, “The suspect was immediately apprehended and taken into custody. During interrogation, he confessed to the killing of the victim.
“Further search at his residence led to the recovery of exhibits, including two mobile phones and slippers of the deceased, dismembered body parts (both hands), a plastic bottle containing the victim’s blood, a cutlass, a knife, an axe, a wooden box of black soap, a sack containing charms and a center table used in carrying out this heinous act. The suspect Mohammed A. Bello has confessed to the crime with the intent to do ‘oshole/ajoo ówò’ (money rituals).”
She added that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ilorin for a thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution.
“The Kwara Command also extends its heartfelt condolences to the entire family of the bereaved. May Almighty God console and comfort them in this period of grief while assuring that justice will be served.
“The Kwara State Police Command urges the general public to remain vigilant while reporting any suspicious activities of person(s) to the authorities.
In case of emergencies, call these numbers 07032069501 or 08125275046,” the statement adds.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that an Islamic cleric in Ilorin, Bello, was arrested for allegedly killing Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde.
Bello reportedly lured Yetunde after connecting with her on Facebook and obtaining her phone number. The incident is said to have occurred on Monday, February 10, 2025.
Hafsoh was attending a naming ceremony when she received a phone call from a friend. She left her meal to answer the call and subsequently disappeared. Family members and friends searched for her in vain before reporting her disappearance to the police at Oja Oba Station in Ilorin the following day.
Police investigators used her phone records to trace her last call, leading them to Bello, who resides in the Offa Garage area of Ilorin, although his family house is in Isalekoto.
The suspect denied any involvement in her disappearance. However, a search of his residence revealed a shocking discovery: Hafsoh’s dismembered body was found in a bowl, along with tools suspected to have been used in the gruesome act.
Bello initially claimed that Hafsoh had died from an asthma attack after visiting his residence.
