A High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, has sentenced Timileyin Ajayi, a gospel singer, to death by hanging for killing Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who was allegedly his girlfriend.
Simon Aboki, the judge, pronounced Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide punishable by death, in line with Section 221 of the Penal Code of northern Nigeria.
In January, Ajayi had confessed to murdering Adaidu in a fit of anger after she allegedly cheated on him. He also showed no remorse.
“I didn’t plan to kill her. She is always cheating, she hides most things from me. I discovered she was cheating when I saw her phone, so I got angry seeing her chat with other guys, and that’s why I killed her,” he said.
The murder incident occurred on January 12, 2025, at Ajayi’s residence in Papalana, New Karshi, Nasarawa State.
Ajayi allegedly killed Adaidu in a fit of rage over alleged infidelity, dismembering her body and attempting to dispose of the remains.
A commercial motorcyclist raised an alarm after noticing blood dripping from a bag Ajayi was carrying, leading to his arrest.
Police found Adaidu’s severed head in the bag, and further investigation revealed the rest of her body had been chopped into small pieces and hidden in buckets at Ajayi’s house.
Despite confessing to the crime during police interrogation, Ajayi pleaded not guilty during the trial, claiming he had no regrets for his actions in his initial confession but later maintained his innocence.
Justice Simon Aboki of the High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221 of the Penal Code, sentencing him to death by hanging.
Adaidu was laid to rest on January 13, just a day after the murder.
Human parts trafficking in Nigeria
Human parts trafficking is a serious and disturbing crime that has been reported in various parts of Nigeria.
This illegal trade involves the harvesting and sale of human organs and body parts, often for ritualistic or financial gain.
The victims of human parts trafficking in Nigeria are often vulnerable individuals, including children, women, and people living in poverty.
They may be lured or coerced into giving up their organs or body parts, or they may be murdered for the purpose of harvesting their organs.
The perpetrators of human parts trafficking in Nigeria often operate in secret, using underground networks and corrupt officials to carry out their activities.
The consequences of human parts trafficking in Nigeria are severe and far-reaching.
The victims and their families suffer physical and emotional trauma, and the wider community is left to grapple with the moral and social implications of this heinous crime.
The Nigerian government has taken steps to address human parts trafficking, including the passage of laws and the establishment of task forces to investigate and prosecute perpetrators.