Police confirm arrest of Islamic cleric over alleged killing of student, recover body parts, ritual items

The Police Command in Kwara State has confirmed the arrest of a 25-year-old Islamic cleric, Mohammed Bello, in connection with the alleged murder of Lawal  Yetunde, a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education.

Authorities say Bello, a resident of the Offa-Garage area in Ilorin, was apprehended following an investigation that uncovered disturbing evidence linked to the crime.

Items allegedly recovered from the suspect’s residence included two mobile phones and the slippers of the victim, along with dismembered body parts (both hands), a plastic bottle containing her blood, a cutlass, a knife, an axe, a wooden box of black soap, a sack of charms, and a center table reportedly used in the act.

Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement released Sunday, confirmed that Bello reportedly admitted to the killing, allegedly carried out as part of a ritual for “Oshole/Ajoo,” a suspected money-making practice.

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.”

According to Ejire-Adeyemi, investigators tracked Yetunde’s phone number, which led to the arrest of Bello.

The statement further reads: “The suspect was immediately apprehended and taken into custody. During interrogation, he (allegedly) 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).”

The case has now been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ilorin for further inquiry and prosecution.

Expressing condolences, the police assured the victim’s family that justice would be served.
“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.