Kwara Police Confirm Arrest Of supected Ritualist Over Murder Of Final-Year Student In Ilorin 

Ilorin, Kwara State – 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.

Bello, a 25-year-old resident of the Offa-Garage area in Ilorin, was apprehended following an investigation that uncovered several incriminating items linked to the crime.

Among the recovered evidence were 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 center table allegedly used in the ritual.

Suspect

Kwara Command spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement released on Sunday, confirmed that the suspect had confessed to the murder, stating that it was carried out as part of a ritual for “Oshole/Ajoo,” a suspected money-making practice.

The statement read, “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.

Suspect

Adetoun explained that her phone number was tracked, and the result led to the arrest of one Abdulrahman M. Bello.

“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) Ilorin, for discreet 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,” Adetoun added.

Suspect

Recalled Afrika Eyes reported that 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.

It 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.