Kwara Court Orders Remand of Suspected Ritual Killer, Abdulrahman , 4 Accomplices over Murder of KWCOED Graduate, Hafsoh Lawal

By Omowumi Omotosho

A Magistrate’s Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has ordered the remand of Abdulrahman Bello, the alleged murderer of Hafsoh Lawal, a graduate of the Kwara State College of Education. The ruling was issued on Tuesday, sending Bello and four other suspects to a correctional facility.

The suspects, who appeared in court without legal representation, include two individuals claiming to be Islamic clerics, a phone technician, and a farmer.

The co-accused are identified as Ahmed AbdulWasiu (41), Suleiman Muhyideen (28), Jamiu Uthman (29), and AbdulRahman Jamiu.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), additional suspects remain at large.

The five defendants are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, possession of human remains, and armed robbery.

The First Information Report (FIR) states that the alleged offences violate Sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code, along with Section 2 of Kwara State’s 2018 law prohibiting dealings in human body parts. Additionally, the charges fall under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP R11, as outlined in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The report further alleges that Bello, who identifies as an Islamic cleric, conspired with his co-accused to carry out the crimes.

The FIR added that, “During the course of investigation at the State CID, Ilorin you, Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ indicted and confessed to have done the act with the consent and knowledge of the following persons; Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhyideen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahmon Jamiu all ‘males’, who were all into same occultic group and that led to their arrest.

“Investigation conducted at the State CID, llorin revealed that, you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhyideen, Jamiu Uthman, Abdulrahmon Jamiu all ‘males’ and others at large, criminally conspired together in killing of the victim for ritual purposes and equally robbed her of her jewelries and other valuables.

“Further investigation conducted at the State CID, Ilorin revealed that, you Abdulrahmon Jamiu, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhyideen, Jamiu Uthman, Abdulrahmon Jamiu all ‘males’ and others at large are the syndicate that have been killing unsuspecting citizens of Kwara for rituals purposes.

“On 14-02-2025 at about 1400hrs, the above captioned case was transferred from ‘C’ Divisional Headquarters, Oja-Oba, llorin and referred to Anti-Robbery Section, State CID, Ilorin for discreet investigation.

“That on 11-02-2025 about 1800hrs, one Adefalu Lawal lbrahim ‘male’ of No. 17, Adefalu Compound, Oju-Ekun Area, lorin reported at ‘C’ Division Oja-Oba, llorin that on 10-02-2025 at about 1400hrs, his daughter by name Adefalu Hasfat Yetunde (female) left to her friend’s house who was having ceremony for her new baby at the same address.

“Thereafter, he discovered that his daughter did not return and her mother contacted some of her friends that went to the occasion together, but they responded that she went to somewhere else from the occasion.

“At this juncture, he called her severally, but her phone rang and no response. Hence, he reported the case to the Police.

“The said phone was tracked and traced to one Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ of opposite Rain oil, Majeasura, Olunlade Area, llorin which led to his arrest.

“Upon your arrest, you Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ voluntarily confessed to have killed the said Adefalu Hasfat Yetunde ‘female’ and cuts her parts into pieces for ritual and your confessional statement led to the recovery of some parts of the victim’s body in your house, while some parts were also recovered where you dumped the parts.

“Investigation further revealed that you, Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ robbed the deceased of her jewelries and other valuables which were recovered in your room.”

The presiding Magistrate Sanusi Mohammed adjourned the case till March 6, 2025.

National Pilot reports that Bello is accused of murdering Hafsoh Lawal, whom he reportedly connected with on Facebook last Tuesday in Ilorin, before proceeding to dismember her body.

Following Bello’s arrest, police officers searched his residence at Offa Garage in Ilorin, where they allegedly discovered Lawal’s dismembered remains. They also recovered various tools, including an axe, knife, and cutlass, which were suspected to have been used in the crime.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, revealed that Bello had confessed to the crime.