A prayer session was held on Saturday at Adefalu Compound, Ojuekun, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, for the repose of the soul of Miss Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, who was allegedly murdered for ritual purposes by a Facebook friend.
The session, led by Imam Alabidun and other Muslim leaders in the Ojuekun/Sarumi area, sought divine justice for the perpetrators. Imam Alabidun urged the grieving family to accept the incident as the will of Allah while praying for justice against those responsible.
Speaking to reporters, Yetunde’s father, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal, recounted that his daughter had recently secured a teaching job in a private school and was last seen on Monday after attending a naming ceremony. When she failed to return home, the family reported her missing at the Oja-Oba Police Station.
According to him, police investigations, including phone tracking, led to the arrest of the suspect, Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, an Islamic cleric. Items recovered from his apartment, including charms and ritual objects, suggested that Yetunde was killed for ritual purposes.
Alhaji Lawal, a school teacher, clarified that he was unaware of any romantic relationship between Yetunde and the suspect, stating that another suitor was preparing to formalize marriage plans with her family. He called on the police and traditional leaders, including the Emir of Ilorin, to ensure a transparent investigation and deliver justice.
Yetunde, who recently completed her National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Chemistry and Integrated Science, was allegedly lured to the suspect’s residence in Olunlade, Ilorin South Local Government Area. The 29-year-old cleric initially claimed she died of an asthma attack but later confessed to her murder.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
