“Suspected Killer of Kwara Student Remanded for Ritual Murder”

An Ilorin magistrate’s court in Kwara State has ordered the remand of Abdulrahman Bello, the suspected killer of Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. Bello, along with five other suspects, was arraigned in connection with the crime, though none of the suspects were represented by legal counsel.

Bello, who reportedly claimed to be a cleric, and his co-accused—Ahmed AbdulWasiu (41), Suleiman Muhyideen (28), Jamiu Uthman (29), and Abdulrahman Jamiu—faced charges including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, possession of human parts, and armed robbery. The charges were brought under various sections of the Nigerian Penal Code and laws prohibiting the dealing in human parts.

According to the police First Information Report (FIR), the suspects are members of an occult group, and they allegedly killed Hafsoh Lawal for ritual purposes. They also robbed her of jewelry and other valuables. The investigation revealed that the group had been involved in the ritual killings of other unsuspecting citizens in Kwara.

The case was brought to light when Adefalu Lawal Ibrahim, Hafsoh’s father, reported her missing after she failed to return home from a friend’s event on February 10, 2025. Upon investigation, the police tracked Hafsoh’s phone to Abdulrahman Bello’s location, which led to his arrest. Further investigation implicated the other suspects, who are all reportedly involved in the killings for ritual purposes.

The case was transferred to the Anti-Robbery Section of the State CID, Ilorin, for further investigation. The police have also stated that other suspects are still at large, and the investigation is ongoing.