The Ogun State High Court has delivered judgment in a harrowing case involving the ritual killing of a 16-year-old girl, Sofia Okeowo, in the Kugba area of Abeokuta South Local Government.
On Friday, the court found three young men guilty and handed down severe sentences for their roles in the gruesome crime.
The convicted individuals—Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon Abdulgafar—were arrested in connection with the shocking murder which occurred on January 28, 2022.
A fourth suspect, Waris Oladeinde, who was initially linked to the case, was discharged and acquitted by the court on March 22, 2022, due to insufficient evidence against him.
According to court proceedings, the victim, Sofia Okeowo, had gone to visit her boyfriend, Mustakeem, on the day of the incident. During her visit, he engaged in sexual intercourse with her.
However, in a horrifying turn of events, Mustakeem, with the assistance of Soliudeen, attacked and strangled Sofia.
After killing her, they proceeded to behead the young girl and mutilate her body by cutting flesh from her thighs. The remains were then stuffed into a sack.
The severed head was taken to the home of the third accomplice, Lukmon Abdulgafar, where they attempted to burn it using a local metal burner. The motive behind the heinous act was reportedly to perform a money ritual.
The incident became widely known after a disturbing video went viral on social media. In the video, the three young men were seen being apprehended by community vigilantes, with Sofia’s head visibly burning in a metal pot while the suspects chanted incantations over her remains.
The footage sparked widespread outrage and renewed conversations about the dangers of ritual killings among Nigerian youths.
In delivering the verdict, the presiding judge found Mustakeem and Soliudeen guilty of murder and sentenced both to death. Lukmon Abdulgafar, who was complicit in the disposal of the victim’s remains, received a life sentence for his involvement.
Reacting to the court’s ruling, Ogun State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, praised the judgment as a triumph for justice and a message to those who threaten public safety.
“Ogun State has won this case, and the convicts have been conclusively excluded from civilised society for the considerable future,” he stated.
Ogungbade also expressed his sympathy for the bereaved family and lauded the legal team at the Ministry of Justice.
“We are grateful for the closure that we have been able to provide Sofia’s family. I am incredibly proud of the prosecutors at the Ministry of Justice who secured justice despite challenges,” he added.
He further emphasized the government’s resolve to clamp down on ritual crimes and urged Nigerian youths to embrace legitimate means of livelihood through skills acquisition or gainful employment.
Ogungbade called for a collective return to traditional values of diligence, honesty, and community accountability, stressing the importance of discouraging criminal tendencies among the younger generation.