A 29-year-old Islamic cleric has been arrested for the alleged murder of Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. The tragic event has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the dangers of online interactions and the imperative for heightened personal security.
The Disappearance
On Monday, February 10, 2025, Yetunde Lawal attended a naming ceremony when she received a phone call. Excusing herself to answer, she subsequently vanished, leaving her food and personal belongings behind. Her sudden disappearance prompted immediate concern among family and friends. After an exhaustive but fruitless search, her father, Mr. Ibrahim A. Lawal, reported her missing to the Oja-Oba Division of the Kwara State Police Command on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
Investigation and Arrest
Acting swiftly, police investigators traced Yetunde’s last known phone communications, leading them to the residence of Abdulrahman Mohad Ballo, an Islamic cleric residing in the Offa Garage area of Ilorin. Upon initial questioning, Ballo denied any knowledge of Yetunde’s whereabouts. However, a subsequent search of his premises led to the horrifying discovery of Yetunde’s dismembered body concealed in a bowl, accompanied by tools suspected to have been used in the gruesome act. Confronted with this evidence, Ballo claimed that Yetunde had visited him and allegedly died of an asthma attack. This assertion stands in stark contrast to the physical evidence uncovered.
Community Reaction
The revelation of Yetunde’s brutal murder has elicited widespread outrage and sorrow within the Ilorin community and beyond. Peers and faculty at the Kwara State College of Education remember Yetunde as a diligent and amiable student, making her untimely death all the more heart-wrenching. Vigils and memorials have been organized in her honor, with calls for justice and increased awareness about the perils associated with online interactions.
Official Statements
The Police Public Relations Officer for Kwara State, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident, stating, “The Kwara Police Command is aware of the gruesome killing of one Miss Yetunde H. Lawal.” She further detailed the investigative actions taken, including the tracking of Yetunde’s phone, leading to the suspect’s apprehension and the recovery of critical evidence.
Safety and Awareness
This tragic event underscores the potential dangers inherent in online engagements. Individuals are urged to exercise caution when interacting with acquaintances met through social media platforms. It is advisable to inform trusted friends or family members about meetings with unfamiliar individuals and to choose public venues for such encounters. Additionally, this incident highlights the necessity for robust community policing and prompt reporting of suspicious activities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Conclusion
The senseless murder of Yetunde Lawal serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities individuals face in the digital age. As the legal process unfolds, the community remains united in grief, advocating for justice and the implementation of measures to ensure such a tragedy does not recur.
