Lafia, Nasarawa State –
The Nasarawa State High Court in Lafia has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the gruesome murder and beheading of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Salome Adaidu.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Simon Aboki found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide, affirming that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death. Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Aboki ruled.
🧾 Court Rejects Confession Denial
Ajayi had claimed that he was unconscious and unaware when he allegedly confessed to the crime. However, the court dismissed the defense as lacking merit.
Justice Aboki emphasized that the confessional statement, coupled with physical evidence and investigative reports, clearly linked Ajayi to the intentional killing and dismemberment of the corps member.
- Ajayi was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which prescribes capital punishment for the offense of culpable homicide punishable by death.
🕊 How Salome Adaidu Was Murdered
Salome Adaidu, a serving NYSC member, was reportedly murdered during a visit to Ajayi’s residence in New Karshi, located in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Ajayi was arrested in Orozo, a border community between Abuja and Nasarawa, after churchgoers intercepted him carrying a polybag containing the severed head of the victim.
Further investigations by the Nigerian Police led to the discovery of the victim’s remaining body parts in his apartment.
💔 Killer Confesses: “It Was Jealousy”
In a viral post-arrest confession, Ajayi admitted to the murder, claiming it was a crime of passion triggered by jealousy.
- “I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time… I saw her chats with other guys on her phone. That was why I decided,” he said.
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He insisted the act was not premeditated but was carried out in a fit of emotional rage after reading messages on her phone.
⚖ Justice Served for a Tragic Loss
The case sparked national outrage when the crime was first reported in 2023, drawing attention to gender-based violence, youth safety, and mental health awareness.
The court’s ruling brings closure to a high-profile murder case that left many Nigerians shaken and mourning the loss of a young life in service to the nation.
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