A suspected ritualist has been implicated in the murder and dismemberment of Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The victim, who met her alleged killer—her boyfriend—on social media, was reportedly slain and her body dismembered for purported ritual purposes. Police authorities in Kwara State have confirmed the arrest of the suspect.

Yetunde went missing on Monday, February 10, 2025, while attending a naming ceremony. Sources revealed that she received a call from a friend during the event, prompting her to abruptly leave after setting down her food. Her tragic fate was later uncovered, sparking outrage and concern over the prevalence of such crimes.

“Since then, we’ve been searching for her everywhere. But no one knew her whereabouts. On Tuesday, her parents reported the case to the Oja Oba Police Station in Ilorin. The police requested her phone number and used it to track her last call. The call was traced to an individual living in the Offa Garage District area of Ilorin, although his family house is in Isalekuto.

“The suspect was arrested but initially denied knowledge of the lady’s whereabouts. However, when the police searched his house, he confessed that the lady was in his area and had died from an asthma attack after he called her to come over.

“Upon further investigation, the police found the lady’s body, dismembered and hidden in a bowl, along with the equipment used to dismember her. The suspect is now at the police headquarters in Ilorin.

“I commend the Kwara State Police Command, Ojo Oba, for the excellent job they’ve done in solving this case. The deceased lady was a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin. They met on Facebook, where he obtained her phone number. He then called her, inviting her to come over.

“Disturbingly, evidence found in the suspect’s house suggests this may not be his first offence. A table in his room appeared to be equipped with tools used to dismember bodies,” the source told Channels Television.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command, through its spokesman Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said investigations are ongoing over the matter.

The spokesperson said immediately after the issue was reported, “the police detectives swung into action, tracked her number and arrested a suspect, and exhibits recovered. The case was transferred yesterday to the SCID for discreet investigations”.

Yetunde’s death adds to the swelling number of ladies who have been allegedly killed by their boyfriends in recent months.

Just at the start of the year, 32-year-old Timilehin Ajayi was reported to have killed his girlfriend Salome Adaidu, and severed her head. The matter is still in court.

Earlier this month, police authorities in Akwa Ibom began a probe over the gruesome murder of makeup artist Emrich Effanga.

Effanga was allegedly killed by her boyfriend who was identified as Ndifreke.