I needed human hands for money rituals. If I had access to such body parts through other means, I wouldn’t have resorted to killing anyone. I carried out the act alone,”
— Abdulrahman Bello
Right: Abdulrahman Bello and his victim Hafsoh Lawal
By Abdulrahman Aliagan
In what has been described as one of the most chilling and ritualistic murder cases in recent times, the serene city of Ilorin was shaken to its core when the gruesome details of the murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal came to light. The ongoing court trial of the primary suspect, Abdulrahman Bello, and his alleged accomplices has revealed a harrowing tale of blood, betrayal, and the desperate quest for quick wealth through dark means.
The horrific saga unfolded earlier this year when the body of 24-year-old Hafsoh Lawal was discovered mutilated, sparking public outrage and a frenzied demand for justice. The young woman, known among peers for her gentle demeanor and aspirations, had been reported missing days before the shocking discovery of her remains.
In court proceedings held this week, damning evidence was presented, including a video confession by Abdulrahman Bello. In the chilling footage, he admitted to killing Hafsoh because he “needed human hands for money rituals.” Bello, who appeared remorseless, stated that if he had access to such body parts through other means, he “wouldn’t have resorted to killing anyone.”
“I carried out the act alone,” Bello said in the video, sending a wave of horror across the courtroom as the footage played before Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi.
Inspector Ayodele Azeez, an officer with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Kwara State Police Command, recounted how the suspect was apprehended with disturbing evidence in his possession. On February 14, 2025, a case of rape and murder was transferred from Oja-Oba’s C Division to the State CID. During a search of Bello’s residence in Olunlade, officers recovered the following items:
A pair of human hands (believed to be Hafsoh’s)
An axe and cutlass, both bloodstained
A table believed to be used for rituals
Multiple charms and fetish items
A consultation book for spiritual practices
Mobile phones (Techno, iPhone, iPhone SR)
A container with blood
A paint rubber used to store ritual tools
A pair of women’s slippers believed to belong to the victim
Inspector Azeez further narrated how the suspect, after being read his rights, opted to write his statement in English and requested legal representation. A lawyer, Barrister A.O. Ahmed, was procured to witness the statement which was recorded under caution and later endorsed by all parties, including ASP Dada Segun, the team leader.
A video recording of the statement, made with the officer’s Android phone, was also submitted in court on a Compact Disk (CD). Although Bello’s counsel, Barrister Agbede (representing Chukwudi Maduka), objected to the admissibility of the CD on grounds of coercion, the court overruled and admitted it into evidence.
Further investigations unearthed a shocking connection between Bello and the other defendants. Call logs analyzed by the police revealed frequent communication between the primary suspect and the other accused before and on the day of the murder.
In a startling twist, the 2nd defendant was identified as Bello’s Islamic teacher, while the 3rd defendant was a student of the 2nd defendant. The 3rd and 5th defendants were described as Bello’s closest friends, raising suspicions of a wider ritualist network masked under religious or academic fronts.
Searches conducted at the homes of these suspects yielded no physical evidence, but the circumstantial links were strong enough to sustain charges.
Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi ordered the playback of the video confession in open court. The session saw emotional outbursts from observers, family members of the deceased, and even court officials as the haunting details of Bello’s confession filled the room.
The courtroom went into recess at exactly 11:32 AM, but the reverberations of the ongoing case continue to stir public discourse across Kwara State and beyond.
The murder of Hafsoh Lawal is more than just another entry in Nigeria’s growing list of ritual killings. It is a painful reminder of the cost of societal pressure, poverty, and the dark allure of blood money. As the trial progresses, many are left questioning: How many more Hafsohs must die before the value of life trumps the quest for wealth?
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