Ilorin Cleric Arrested For Ritual Killing Of Final-Year Student In Kwara

Ilorin,  Kwara State – An Islamic cleric in Ilorin, Abdulrahman Mohad Ballo, has been arrested for allegedly killing a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, for ritual purposes.

The suspect reportedly lured Yetunde after connecting with her on Facebook and obtaining her phone number.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, February 10, 2025.

Ir was gathered that Hafsoh was attending a naming ceremony when she received a phone call from a friend.

However,  she left her food to answer the call and then disappeared. Family members and friends searched for her in vain before reporting her disappearance to the police at the Oja Oba Station in Ilorin the following day.

Meanwhile, Police investigators used her phone records to trace her last call, leading them to Ballo, who resides in the Offa Garage area of Ilorin, though his family house is in Isalekoto.

It was learnt that the suspect denied any involvement in the disappearance.

Meanwhile, Ballo claimed that Hafsoh had died from an asthma attack after visiting his residence.

However, a search of his residence uncovered the gruesome truth—Yetunde’s dismembered body was found hidden in a bowl, along with tools used to mutilate her remains.

Further evidence suggested that this was not Ballo’s first ritual killing, as investigators found a table equipped with body dismemberment tools in his room.

Ballo, reportedly the son of a prominent but recently deceased cleric in Isalekoto, Ilorin, is now in police custody at the Kwara State Police Headquarters as investigations continue.