Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, the 25-year-old prime suspect in the alleged brutal murder of final-year student Yetunde Lawal, has been transferred to Abuja by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The suspect’s relocation follows renewed investigations into the case, which is currently being heard at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. According to sources, DSS officials raided the Oke-Kura Federal Correctional Centre over the weekend and removed Bello from custody.

Confirmation of the move was provided by Phillip Adegbulugbe, spokesperson for the Kwara State Federal Correctional Centre, in an interview with Daily Trust on Wednesday. The suspect is now in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as authorities intensify efforts to unravel the details of the case.

According to him, “Yes, he has been moved, AbdulRahman Bello is out of our custodial center for now. We got an invitation from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) and DSS that they want to intensify investigation.

“You know he can’t be in prison while the investigation is going on. But I don’t know where he was taken to because I didn’t follow them. But he is out of our custodial centre for now and no longer under our custody,” he said.

The suspect was remanded until March 20, 2025, by Chief Magistrate Sanusi Mohammed at the last hearing where he claimed sole responsibility for the girl’s murder.

He was charged alongside four other accomplices. No legal representation was announced for him at the last sitting.