An 18-year-old girl, Habibat Akinsanya, who had been reported missing, was found dead on her father’s farm in Obasa, Mile 6, along Ajebo Road, in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, News About Nigeria reports.
A police source who spoke on the condition of anonymity disclosed this to newsmen on Monday.
The source revealed that the victim was discovered dead on Sunday, bearing multiple machete wounds to her head and other parts of her body, with her hands bound behind her back, adding that she was sexually assaulted before being murdered.
The source who spoke on behalf of the Ogun State Command noted that the exact motive behind the murder remains unclear, stating that rumours suggest it was premeditated.
The deceased’s father, Shamsuddeen, had previously 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 operates a point-of-sale business in the Kemta area, where she was allegedly approached by one Onyeka.
Onyeka, who the police have identified as a primary suspect in the murder and who typically worked for the father, allegedly told the deceased that her mother needed her at the farm to help with the cassava harvest.
The source stated, “The father informed the police that Akinsanya had left the house to assist at her sister’s at her 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 command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, stated on Monday, stated that an investigation has commenced to uncover the circumstances surrounding the murder, noting that a manhunt has commenced to locate the fleeing suspect.
“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,” she stated.
