A prayer session was held on Saturday at Adefalu Compound, Ojuekun Area, Ilorin, within the Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, to pray for the soul of Miss Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student at Kwara State College of Education. She was reportedly killed for ritual purposes by a Facebook acquaintance.
The prayer service, organized by local Muslim leaders from the Ojuekun/Sarumi area, was led by Imam Alabidun, a respected Islamic scholar.
Imam Alabidun prayed for Allah to grant the deceased peace and urged her parents to accept the loss as part of God’s will. He also prayed for divine justice, stating that the individuals responsible for Hafsat’s death would face God’s wrath both in this life and the afterlife.
In an interview with reporters after the prayers, Hafsat’s father, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal, shared details about his daughter’s life. He explained that she had recently secured a teaching job at a private nursery/primary school in the area.
Lawal described how Hafsat returned home from work on Monday afternoon at around 12:30 pm and attended a naming ceremony of a friend. However, she never returned home that night. Her family reported her missing to the Oja-Oba Police station on Tuesday.
Further investigation revealed that Hafsat had been contacted by the suspect, Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, who later confessed to her murder. Police also recovered items from the suspect’s apartment, including charms, horn, and black soap, indicating that Hafsat’s death was ritualistic.
Lawal mentioned that he was unaware of the suspect’s relationship with Hafsat, noting that she had been in a relationship with a different man who was preparing to approach the family to formalize their marriage. “About fifteen days ago, I told her to tell the boy I know to bring his family to meet ours for marriage talks,” Lawal explained.
In his appeal to the authorities, Lawal called for a transparent investigation into his daughter’s death, urging the Nigeria Police Force, both in Kwara State and nationwide, as well as the Emir of Ilorin, to ensure justice was served. “I want justice so that this tragic incident serves as a lesson to society and prevents future occurrences,” he said.
Yetunde, who had recently completed her National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Chemistry and Integrated Science, was allegedly murdered by Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, a 29-year-old cleric.
Bello, who is currently in police custody, invited Yetunde to his apartment under the pretext of a visit, where he allegedly murdered her. Initially, he claimed she died of asthma, but later confessed to the crime. The incident took place on Tuesday at Bello’s rented apartment in the Olunlade area, within the Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.
