The Nasarawa State Police Command has taken gospel singer Timilehin Ajayi into custody for allegedly killing and dismembering his 24-year-old girlfriend, Salome Enejo, a National Youth Service Corps member, reportedly for ritual purposes.
Speaking to The PUNCH, the State Police Command’s Spokesperson, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed that Enejo, who was serving in Abuja, was brutally murdered by Ajayi.
The suspect was apprehended on Sunday in Orozo, a community situated on the border between the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.
Churchgoers raised the alarm after Ajayi was seen carrying a polybag containing the severed head of the deceased.
Caleb Umaru, the Bible Study Teacher and General Secretary of the church, provided further details in an interview on Monday.
Umaru revealed that a member of the church had spotted Ajayi behaving suspiciously near a river close to the church.
According to Umaru, “It was just before the end of the service, around 11 a.m., during the final pledge and prayers. A church member, Brother Victor, opened his eyes during the prayers and noticed someone walking suspiciously by the river near the church, carrying a bag. His movements caught Victor’s attention, prompting him to call over Brother Amos to take notice as well.
“When he saw them, he threw a black nylon bag into the river, and when they enquired from him what he threw into the river, he said nothing. After many questions that he didn’t answer, they left him and went back but didn’t go into the church.”
Umaru explained that Ajayi attempted to flee when he was repeatedly asked to open the bag. However, he was pursued and apprehended by some men in a nearby farm area before being handed over to the police, who arrived just in time to rescue him from a mob.
A motorcyclist who had earlier transported Ajayi with the suspicious sack also joined the group that confronted him.
Umaru recounted how the four men compelled Ajayi to retrieve the bag from the river, exposing its gruesome contents.
In a phone conversation with The PUNCH, Nansel said Ajayi was saved from an irate crowd at the scene.
A subsequent search of his residence revealed two sacks containing the dismembered remains of the victim.
“The suspect was found with a fresh human head, and when we got to the scene, we rescued him from being mobbed by the ones who accosted him,” Nansel stated.
“During the investigation at his place of residence, we found two sacks filled with the victim’s dismembered body. The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Salome Enejo; her parents have been contacted and have identified her. She is a National Youth Service Corps member, serving in Abuja.
“The suspect is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital; he was injured when we rescued him. A thorough investigation has commenced,” the police spokespsrson added.
This chilling incident mirrors another case reported on October 11, 2023, when the Lagos State Police Command declared Benjamin Nnanyereugo, also known as KillaBoi, wanted for the murder of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Augusta Osedion.
Osedion was allegedly killed on July 13, 2023, at Nnanyereugo’s residence in Oral Estate, Ajah, Lagos State.
