Ogun Court Sentences Three to Death for Ritual Killing
- Admin
- Jul 12
- 2 min read
An Ogun State High Court has sentenced three men for the horrific ritual killing of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo in the Kugba area of Abeokuta South Local Government.
The convicts Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon Abdulgafar were found guilty of the gruesome murder that occurred on January 28, 2022. According to court records, Sofia had visited her boyfriend, Mustakeem, who lured her into a deadly trap.
During the visit, Mustakeem and Soliudeen had intercourse with the victim before jointly strangling her. They then beheaded her and mutilated her body, cutting flesh from her thighs. Her remains were stuffed into a sack while her severed head was taken to Lukmon’s house, where it was burned using a local cooking burner.
The heinous act came to light when a disturbing video surfaced online showing the suspects being apprehended by local vigilantes, with Sofia’s head burning in the background and the perpetrators chanting incantations over her body.
Following the trial, Justice delivered a verdict sentencing Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death, while Lukmon Abdulgafar received a life sentence. A fourth suspect, Waris Oladeinde, was earlier discharged in March 2022 due to lack of evidence.
Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, lauded the ruling as a victory for justice. “The state has successfully removed dangerous elements from society. We are proud of our prosecutors for securing justice despite significant hurdles,” he said.
Ogungbade also used the opportunity to caution youths against engaging in money rituals and urged them to pursue education, skills acquisition, or gainful employment. He further appealed to society to return to core values of hard work, morality, and shared responsibility.
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