The Nasarawa State Police Command has charged Timileyin Ajayi, a self-proclaimed gospel singer, with the gruesome murder of Salome Eleojo.
The suspect was arraigned on Friday before a magistrate court on a one-count charge of culpable homicide punishable by death, in violation of Section 221 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.
However, the court ordered the suspect to be remanded at the Lafia Correctional Facility pending formal arraignment and further legal proceedings.
SaharaReporters had reported that Timileyin Ajayi, a 32-year-old man, was remanded in the custody of the Nasarawa State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia, the state capital.
His arrest stems from allegations of murdering his girlfriend, Salome Eleoja Adaidu, a 24-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who worked at Nicon Insurance in Abuja.
The incident occurred when Salome reportedly visited Timileyin’s residence in the Papalana axis of New Karshi, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
Ajayi was taken into custody and brought to the Nasarawa State Police Command headquarters from Karshi development area in Karu Local Government Area.
During the parade, the alleged murder weapon, including a knife and machetes, were displayed.
SaharaReporters had reported that the disturbing incident occurred in Orozo, Abuja, where the gospel singer, Ajayi was apprehended by churchgoers during a service.
He was found with a sack containing the severed head of a woman he identified as his girlfriend.
According to Umaru Caleb, a church member who shared the incident on Facebook, the suspect was apprehended during a Sunday service.
A fellow congregant reportedly felt compelled to stop the suspect and inspect the contents of a sack he was carrying. Upon investigation, the sack was found to contain the fresh head of the suspect’s girlfriend.
The congregant was horrified to discover the freshly severed head of a young woman, who appeared to have recently braided her hair in a stylish “million braids” fashion.
The church member immediately raised an alarm, prompting other worshippers to rush outside.
The suspect was severely beaten by the mob and subsequently interrogated about the origin of the severed head. According to reports, he revealed that the victim was his girlfriend, who had travelled from a distant location to visit him.
In an interview with Channels TV on Tuesday, Timileyin Ajayi responded to questioning, admitting to killing Salome.
When asked if he committed the crime, he replied, “Yes.”
He further explained that the act was not premeditated, attributing it to the frustration of not being able to spend time together consistently.
“I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time, it’s not something I planned. It happened on that day and it happened. Not that I have the plan in mind, she was cheating. She hides most of the things from me most times. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided,” he said.
When asked if he had any regrets about his actions, Timileyin Ajayi responded, indicating that he did not regret committing the crime.
He said, “I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal that is what I thought, if you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person. You have to understand what that person is going through so that you can actually put yourself in the position that the person is going through, that is why I don’t have any regrets because we were actually compatible.”
