Cleric Confesses to Killing Final-Year Student for Ritual in Ilorin Courtroom Video

An Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, shocked the courtroom at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Wednesday after a video recording was played in which he confessed to the ritual killing of a university student, Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, for money-making purposes.

The chilling video evidence, tendered by the prosecution, shows Bello admitting that he acted alone in the brutal killing of the final-year student. He further claimed that he would not have committed the murder if he had access to human body parts by other means.

Bello is currently standing trial alongside four alleged accomplices, all linked to the murder case. The trial is presided over by Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi.

Details from the Investigation

Inspector Ayodele Azeez of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) testified before the court, recounting the investigation that led to Bello’s arrest and the discovery of disturbing items in his home.

“On February 14, 2025, a case of murder and rape was transferred from Oja-Oba Division to the State CID,” Azeez stated.

“The first defendant, Abdulrahman Bello of Olunlade, was found with an axe, cutlass, charms, a consultation book, a table, a container filled with blood, a pair of female slippers, and the severed hands of the victim.”

Azeez added that Bello voluntarily gave his statement in both written and recorded form, with legal representation provided by police-appointed counsel Barrister A.O. Ahmed, as Bello claimed he could not afford his own lawyer. The video statement was transferred to a compact disc and submitted as part of the evidence.

Although defense counsel Barrister Agbede objected to the video’s admissibility, arguing that the confession was obtained under duress, Justice Ajayi ruled it admissible and ordered it to be played in court.

Links to Other Suspects

Inspector Azeez further testified that call records from Bello’s phone led investigators to other suspects. He noted that all five individuals are interconnected through communication before and during the time of the murder.

“The second defendant is Bello’s teacher, the third is the teacher’s student, and the fourth and fifth are close associates of the first defendant,” Azeez explained.

The court adjourned proceedings at 11:32 a.m., with the trial expected to continue later in the day.

The gruesome case has drawn national attention and renewed public concerns about ritual-related killings in Nigeria, especially among youth and religious figures misusing spiritual authority.