Habibat Akinsanya, an 18-year-old girl who had been reported missing, was found dead on her father’s farm at Obasa, Mile 6, along Ajebo Road in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
It was gathered on Monday that Akinsanya was discovered dead on Sunday, with multiple machete slashes to her head and other parts of her body, and her hands bound behind her back.
According to trustworthy police sources, the victim was sexually molested before being killed.
A police source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the gruesome murder could be linked to a vengeance assault on the family.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has revealed that the incident is being investigated as a premeditated murder.
Shamsuddeen, the deceased’s father, earlier reported his daughter missing to the Kemta Police Division on August 31, 2024.
On August 30, 2024, Akinsanya reportedly left her father’s house to assist her sister, who has a Point of Sale business in the Kemta neighbourhood, where she was allegedly accosted by Onyeka.
Onyeka, who the police have identified as the prime suspect in the murder and who usually worked for Akinsanya’s father, allegedly persuaded the dead that her mother needed her at the farm to help with the cassava harvest.
However, our correspondent discovered that the family became suspicious of foul play after the deceased’s sister was unable to locate her at either the shop or her house. This prompted the father to report the incident to the Kemta Police Division.
The cop said, “The father informed the police that Akinsanya had left the house to assist at her sister’s point of sale shop on Mile 6, Ajebo Road. However, when the sister arrived at the shop, Akinsanya was not there and did not return home.
“This case does not involve kidnapping, as none of the typical elements are present. While the exact motive behind the murder remains unclear, rumours suggest it was premeditated. The victim was not forcibly abducted but was lured by the perpetrator under the pretence that her mother needed her at the farm. Once there, the perpetrator restrained her, raped her, and then murdered her.
“The father reported receiving a phone call from someone demanding money. The number was tracked, and the police searched the last known location of the number in Oke Egunya, Totoro, for hours. This search yielded no results until a call was received indicating that the girl’s body had been discovered on her father’s farm.
The State Police Command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, informed our correspondent on Monday that an investigation had been initiated to uncover the circumstances surrounding the murder, noting that a manhunt had commenced to locate the fleeing suspect.
She stated, “In cases of missing persons, the police typically ask the complainant to wait 24 to 48 hours before filing a report, as some individuals return home within that timeframe. This is a standard procedure followed by law enforcement.
“A manhunt has been launched to aid in the apprehension of Onyeka, who is currently at large. Our officers have also initiated a discreet investigation into the matter.”
