Police detain priest in connection with the murder of a final-year student in Kwara

A 29-year-old Islamic instructor and cleric has been taken into custody by the Kwara State Police Command in connection with the suspected murder of a female final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin. The preacher, whom the female student, Yetunde Lawal, met on Facebook, was accused of killing her last Tuesday. According to information obtained, the woman was invited by phone on Monday by the priest (name withheld), who then allegedly killed and dismembered her at Ganmo, which is outside of Ilorin, the state capital. In a statement released on Saturday, the state's Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi SP, confirmed the occurrence and stated that the Command had started an investigation into it.

The PPRO said, “The Kwara Police Command is aware of the gruesome killing of one Miss Yetunde H. Lawal.

“On 11/02/2025 at about 1800 hours, a case of a missing person was reported at C Division Oja-Oba by her father, Mr Ibrahim A Lawal.

“Immediately, the police detectives swung into action, tracked her number and arrested a suspect, exhibits recovered. The case was transferred yesterday to the SCID for discreet investigations.

“The suspect had been arrested through the deceased’s tracked phone number to the suspect’s house in the Offa Garaji area, Ilorin, but initially denied knowing her whereabouts.

“However, during a search of his house by the police, he confessed that she had visited him and allegedly died of an asthma attack.

“Upon further investigation, police discovered Yetunde’s dismembered body, hidden in a bowl, along with equipment used for the act.”