The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin was filled with grief and anguish on Wednesday as the trial of AbdulRahman Bello, widely known as the Facebook lover killer, progressed.
According to Naturenex, the atmosphere turned harrowing when police witnesses presented human body parts believed to belong to the victim as part of the evidence in the case.
AbdulRahman Bello stands accused of the gruesome killing of his lover, Hafsoh Lawal, allegedly for ritualistic purposes, a crime that has deeply shocked the community.
A particularly heart-wrenching moment occurred when the deceased’s father, Ibrahim Lawal, was asked to identify parts of his daughter’s dismembered remains. As the police presented two severed hands to the court, Ibrahim was overwhelmed with grief, breaking down in uncontrollable tears. The entire courtroom, packed with family members, friends, and sympathizers, was consumed by sorrow, with several others also in tears as the scent of decomposing remains filled the space.
In an effort to console the devastated father, Justice Hannah Ajayi briefly halted proceedings. The judge offered a prayer for Ibrahim Lawal, asking that God grant him strength and comfort in the face of his tragic loss.
The horrific incident began in February 2025 when Bello, an Ilorin-based cleric, allegedly took the life of Hafsoh Lawal, dismembered her body, and reportedly intended to use the parts for money rituals.
After Hafsoh was declared missing, investigations commenced, and on February 13, 2025, the police arrested Bello. He was said to have confessed to the crime upon interrogation.
Recalling the painful events, Ibrahim Lawal narrated to the court how his daughter’s sudden disappearance had thrown the family into distress. “I called her line, but she didn’t pick up, and by 7 p.m., her phone was switched off,” he recounted, describing the desperate search for Hafsoh that eventually led to Bello’s arrest.
During the trial, the police tendered several disturbing exhibits recovered from Bello’s residence and a nearby refuse site. These included a cutlass, an axe, a bloodied centre table, a knife, a keg containing human blood, Hafsoh’s slippers, earrings, her mobile phones, and two severed hands, which Ibrahim Lawal painfully identified as those of his daughter.
Police witness, Yusuf Dauda, who is responsible for safeguarding the exhibits, confirmed in his testimony that the items were duly documented and registered. He explained that the materials had been submitted by Inspector Ayodele Azeez from the anti-robbery unit and were recorded for the offences of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and unlawful possession of human parts.
Under cross-examination, defence counsel Chukwudi Maduka questioned Dauda about his personal involvement in the recovery of the items, suggesting he wasn’t present at the scene. However, Dauda stood firm, insisting on the credibility of his testimony and the proper handling of the evidence.
The trial proceeded with more evidence and witness testimonies, and Justice Ajayi subsequently adjourned the case to May 12, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing.
