Man Rap3s & Kills Female Trader For Money Ritual, Burns Her Corpse In Kwara

In Kwara State, the authorities have apprehended Atolagbe Yemi Oje on suspicion of raping and murdering Mayowa Ajiboye, a mother of one, allegedly for ritualistic purposes. Mayowa, a palm oil vendor residing in the Omu-Aran area of the state, was purportedly assaulted to death, her body incinerated, and then discarded into a river by the accused.

Addressing the appalling incident, Commissioner of Police Victor Olaiya condemned the act as "barbaric" and labeled the suspect as "a monster." According to Olaiya, the victim had initially paid N1,600 to Oje in November for assistance in procuring firewood in the forest, intended for cooking palm fruit, a request he failed to fulfill.

On February 22, 2024, the victim and her young daughter, Ope, ventured into the bush to gather firewood, where they encountered Oje. Seizing the opportunity, Oje joined them in collecting firewood, instructing the victim's daughter to transport some to their cooking spot while luring the victim deeper into the bush under the guise of gathering more firewood.

Upon reaching a secluded area, Oje ambushed the victim while she was on a phone call, immobilizing her by grasping her legs from behind. Despite her efforts to defend herself with a stick, Oje wrested it from her and inflicted severe blows to her head, rendering her unconscious. Subsequently, he sexually assaulted her, extracted hair from her genitals, wiped away semen and blood with a white handkerchief for ritualistic purposes, slaughtered her with a cutlass, incinerated her remains, and disposed of the burnt body in a river.

The Commissioner of Police revealed that Oje concealed the victim's phone in the bushes, discarding the SIM card and battery to avoid detection. Oje confessed to the heinous crime to evade exposure.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing, with assurances from the police chief that the suspect will face charges upon its conclusion.