Ilorin, Kwara State — Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court has sentenced Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging for killing Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a 24-year-old final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, after four months of trial.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday, bringing some closure to a case that has gripped the community since the tragic incident happened earlier this year. However, four other suspects—Ahmed Abdulwasiu (41), Suleiman Muyideen (28), Jamiu Uthman (29), and Abdulrahmon Jamiu (31)—were discharged and acquitted of any involvement in the crime.
What Happened?
According to court testimony and confessions, Abdulrahman Bello, who claimed to be an Islamic cleric, lured Hafsoh Lawal, whom he had met on Facebook, to his residence near the Offa Garage area of Ilorin on February 13, 2025.
She was attending a naming ceremony for a friend’s baby before she left to meet him.
During the trial, Bello confessed that after having multiple rounds of sex with Hafsoh, he strangled her and dismembered her body. He claimed he needed human body parts—specifically hands—for money rituals.
In a chilling confession, Bello expressed regret, saying:
“If only I had known another way to get the required ingredient, I wouldn’t have killed her.”
At another point during the trial, he changed his story, saying Hafsoh died from an asthma attack during sex, and that he panicked, which led him to cut up her body to dispose of it.
Court’s Judgment
Justice Ajayi ruled that the evidence, including Bello’s confession, showed clear intent and guilt. She described the act as inhuman and wicked, and sentenced Bello to death by hanging.
The judge, however, found no solid evidence linking the four other accused men to the crime and ordered their release.
Why This Matters
The murder of Hafsoh Lawal shocked the Kwara community, especially students and youth, highlighting the dangers of online relationships and ritual killings.
The case also brings attention to the need for public awareness, especially among young people, about personal safety, online interactions, and the threat of fraudulent spiritual practices.
