A Kwara State High Court sentences the killer of a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education to death. Consequently, the killer of Hafsoh Lawal Yetunde, Alfa Abdulrahman Bello, is to die by hanging.
Trial Details
The trial lasted about five months, with a lot of public emotions pervading the state atmosphere. Furthermore, the trial judge, Hannah Olushola Ajayi, presides over the Kwara State High Court. Nonetheless, Justice Hannah Ajayi delivered the ruling, which found the Islamic cleric guilty of the gruesome murder.
Killer’s Motive
The guilty verdict is based on the overwhelming evidence of suspected ritual killing from Abdulrahman Bello. Without a doubt, the deceased remains and some of her personal belongings found in his house were enough.
Victim’s Background
Hafsoh Lawal Yetunde is a 24-year-old final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education. However, the late Yetunde sought some spiritual help from the cleric, which eventually led to her demise.
Meeting On Facebook
Abdulrahman Bello meets Lawal on Facebook and lures her to his place. On the other hand, the unsuspecting Yetunde had informed a friend of her movement despite the cleric’s warning against such. Eventually he ended up killing her in his house.
Court’s Decision
The judge’s final verdict was clear and firm. She called Abdulrahma’s action wicked and evil, as evidence showed he dismembered her. Conclusively, the Court finds Bello guilty and sentences him to death by hanging.
Other Defendants
The trial judge, Hannah Ajayi, however, acquitted the other four suspected accomplices for lack of evidence. They are Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muyideen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahmon Jamiu.
Day Of Murder
Miss Hafsoh Lawal Yetunde was actually at a naming ceremony when Alfa Bello called her to his place. Consequently, he kills her by choking her to death that same day for money rituals. For this reason, he dismembered her corpse.
Alternate Story
According to Alfa Bello, he claims Miss Lawal died of asthma. However, he admitted having sex with her and only panicked when she died of an asthmatic attack.
Summary
Abdulrahman Bello is a 25-year-old self-acclaimed Islamic cleric who was recently sentenced to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Hafsoh Lawal, a 24-year-old final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin. He lured Hafsoh to his home under false pretences, had sex with her, killed her, and dismembered her body for ritual purposes. The Kwara State High Court, presided over by Justice Hannah Ajayi, found Bello guilty of the crime and sentenced him to death. Four other defendants were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Bello had claimed he loved Hafsoh and intended to marry her, but the court dismissed this as a calculated lie to gain her trust. The murder occurred on February 10, 2025, at the Olunlade area of Ilorin. Police found disturbing evidence in Bello’s possession, including Hafsoh’s severed palm, a bottle filled with blood, and personal items belonging to her.
Justice Ajayi described the act as “cruel, wicked, and a shocking display of inhumanity”. Bello’s sentence was widely reported and sparked reactions from Nigerians, with some calling for justice and others expressing outrage at the brutality of the crime.
