The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a Quranic teacher, Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, in connection with the murder of Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student at Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. Authorities suspect the killing was for ritual purposes.
Lawal, 25, had been missing since Monday, February 10, before police discovered her dismembered body in the suspect’s residence.
According to reports, she was last seen at a child’s naming ceremony when she received a call from a friend—later identified as the suspect. She abruptly left her meal to answer the call and was never seen again. Her worried family launched a search and eventually reported her disappearance to the police at Oja Oba Station in Ilorin.
Investigators tracked her last call, leading them to Bello’s location at the Ofa Garage area of Ilorin. Initially, he denied any involvement but later claimed that Lawal had visited him and died of an asthma attack.
However, further investigation uncovered a gruesome scene—Lawal’s dismembered remains hidden in a bowl, along with tools allegedly used for the act.
Bello is currently in police custody at the state headquarters for further interrogation. He reportedly told investigators that he had met Lawal on Facebook, obtained her phone number, and later invited her over.
Authorities suspect this may not have been his first crime, as evidence found in his residence suggested prior similar activities.
Bello is the son of the late Sheikh Isiaq Mohammed Bello, a respected Islamic cleric from the Isale Koko area of Ilorin, who passed away on December 26, 2024.
Confirming the arrest, Kwara State Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi stated:
“On February 11, 2025, at about 18:00 hours, a case of a missing person was reported at C Division, Oja-Oba, by her father, Mr. Ibrahim A. Lawal. Police detectives immediately tracked her number and arrested a suspect, recovering exhibits related to the crime. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further inquiries. Updates will follow as the investigation progresses.”
The incident has shocked the community, with many calling for justice for the slain student.
●Source: The News Bearer
