Ritual Killing: Police Arrest Cleric Over Female Student’s Death In Kwara

• Facebook meeting turns tragic

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a self-acclaimed cleric, AbdulRahman Bello, for allegedly killing a female student for ritual purposes in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Reports indicated that the deceased, Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, was a final year student at the Kwara State College of Education located in Ilọrin.

The Kwara Police Command Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, who confirmed the unfortunate incident on Saturday, described it as ‘gruesome’.

Ejire-Adeyemi said in an official statement that; “On 11/O2/2025 at about 18:00 hours, a case of missing person was reported at C Division Oja-Oba by her father, Mr Ibrahim A. Lawal.

“Immediately, the Police detectives swung into action, tracked her number and arrested a suspect.

“The case was transferred yesterday (Friday) to the SCID for discreet investigations. Further updates will be communicated as investigations progresses.”

Meanwhile, reports said Yetunde went missing on February 10, 2025 after attending a naming ceremony.

Competent sources disclosed that while eating during the event, Yetunde received a call and immediately left the programme only to be declared missing thereafter.

It was further learnt that the suspect allegedly met her through Facebook, where he obtained her phone number through pretence and invited her over.

Worried by the development, her parents reported the case to the Oja Oba Police Station in Ilorin.

According to family insiders, the Police requested her phone number and used it to track her last call which was traced to the suspect at Offa Garage although his family house is in Isalekoto.

One of the Police sources volunteered thus; “The suspect was arrested, but initially denied knowledge of the lady’s whereabouts.

“However, when the Police searched his house, he confessed that the lady came around but died from an asthma attack.

“Her dismembered body hidden in a bowl, along with the tools used to carry out the act, were later found in his house

“Other evidence found in the suspect’s house suggests this may not be his first time as a table in his room equipped with tools used to dismember bodies was also discovered”.

Forefront News learnt the suspect is said to be the son of a prominent cleric from Isalekoto who died recently.