AbdulRahman Bello, a self-proclaimed cleric, has been arrested by the Kwara State Police Command for allegedly murdering a student for purported ritual purposes.
The victim, Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, was a final year student at the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin. She reportedly went missing on February 10, 2025, after attending a naming ceremony.
While dining at the event, she received a call and left the gathering, only to be declared missing shortly after.
It is believed that the suspect met her through Facebook, where he acquired her phone number deceptively and invited her to meet him.
Concerned by her disappearance, her parents reported her missing at the Oja Oba Police Station in Ilorin.
A source revealed that the police obtained her phone number and traced her last call, which led them to the suspect at Offa Garage, despite his family home being in Isalekoto.
“The suspect was apprehended, initially denying any knowledge of her whereabouts. However, during a search of his home, he confessed that she had visited but died from an asthma attack.
“Her dismembered body was subsequently discovered in a bowl, along with the tools he used to commit the crime.
“Additional evidence found in the suspect’s home suggests this may not be his first offence; a table equipped with tools for dismembering bodies was also uncovered,” the source added.
The accused is reported to be the son of a prominent cleric from Isalekoto who passed away recently.
Confirming the incident on Saturday, Police PRO Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi (SP) described the case as ‘gruesome’.
“On 11/02/2025 at approximately 18:00 hours, a missing person report was filed at C Division Oja-Oba by her father, Mr Ibrahim A. Lawal.
“Immediately, police detectives sprang into action, tracked her number, and arrested a suspect. The case was transferred yesterday (Friday) to the SCID for a thorough investigation.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
