By Abdulahmeed Abdulrozaq Bilal | Fact Frontier
What Happened?
In February 2025, the city of Ilorin, Kwara State, was rocked by a deeply disturbing and gruesome murder case involving a final-year student and a self-proclaimed Islamic cleric. The incident not only ignited public outrage but also reopened conversations around ritual killings, online safety, and the abuse of religious titles in Nigeria.
Who Was Hafast?
Hafsat Yetunde Lawal was a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. Bright, full of hope, and preparing for life beyond school, Hafsat had no idea that a simple online interaction would become the gateway to her untimely death. Her disappearance raised concern among family and friends, and when efforts to locate her failed, a report was made to the police.
Police Intervention
Investigations eventually led authorities to a man named Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, who was also known as Alfa Abdulrahman. He had presented himself as a religious figure and had built a deceptive image of trustworthiness, both in his community and on social media. Police reports revealed that Hafsat met Abdulrahman through Facebook, where he lured her into meeting with the promise of helping her spiritually and financially.
When Hafsat visited him at his residence in Ilorin, she was allegedly drugged, hypnotised, and later murdered. In what authorities described as a ritual killing, Abdulrahman dismembered Hafsat’s body. He then disposed of the body parts in different locations around Ilorin, notably in a dumpsite. Although the police recovered several body parts, some remained missing as of the time of the report.
The Arrest
The arrest of Abdulrahman and five accomplices led to a series of shocking revelations. Ritual paraphernalia, blood-stained materials, and evidence of prior suspicious activity were discovered in his home. The police described the scene as horrifying and called for stricter measures against individuals who exploit religious authority for criminal purposes.
Court Intervention
Abdulrahman was arraigned at a magistrate court in Ilorin alongside the other suspects. The charges included conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of human parts, and armed robbery. The court ordered that all accused persons be remanded in a correctional facility pending further investigations and legal proceedings.
Implications of The Incident
The tragedy of Hafsat Lawal's death has had a lasting impact on the community. Students at the Kwara State College of Education held vigils in her memory, while local groups and civil society organisations called for justice and the implementation of stricter laws to prevent similar incidents. Many Nigerians took to social media to express their anger and sorrow, especially pointing out the dangers young women face when meeting strangers through the internet.
This case also reignited a national debate over ritual killings, a practice that has claimed hundreds of lives across the country. While such killings are often hidden behind superstitions and cultural taboos, the blatant cruelty displayed in Hafsat’s case made it impossible to ignore. Religious leaders, lawmakers, and human rights activists called for the re-evaluation of how spiritual titles like Alfa and Pastor are granted and policed in society.
The painful loss of Hafsat Lawal continues to serve as a reminder of the evil that can lurk behind false piety and social media anonymity. As legal proceedings continue, the public awaits justice not only for Hafsat but for all other victims who never received a voice. The case stands as a warning, a tragedy, and a plea for stronger societal safeguards against predators hiding in plain sight.
Final Verdict
On Thursday July 31 2025, Alfa Abdulrahman was sentenced to death by hanging after the five months old gruesome murder.
