- An Ogun State High Court has sentenced three young men for the murder of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo.
- The murder, described as a ritual killing, occurred in the Kugba area of Abeokuta South Local Government.
- The convicted individuals are Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon Abdulgafar.
An Ogun State High Court has sentenced three young men for the brutal murder of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo, whose ritual killing in the Kugba area of Abeokuta South Local Government sent shockwaves across the country.
The convicted individuals Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon Abdulgafar were found guilty of taking Sofia’s life on January 28, 2022.
Court records revealed that Sofia had gone to visit her boyfriend, Mustakeem. During a sexual encounter, Mustakeem and Soliudeen strangled her. They then decapitated her, removed flesh from her thighs, and placed her mutilated body in a sack. Her severed head was later taken to Lukmon’s residence, where it was burned over a traditional burner in a suspected ritual act.
The horrific crime was exposed after a video surfaced online showing local vigilantes apprehending the suspects while they were burning Sofia’s head and chanting incantations.
In its ruling, the court sentenced Mustakeem and Soliudeen to death by hanging. Lukmon received a life imprisonment sentence.
Speaking on the judgment, Ogun State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, called the verdict a landmark victory for justice. He praised the prosecutors and expressed hope that the judgment brings closure to the victim’s family.
“This is a strong message to others: crimes like this have no place in our society,” he said, urging young people to reject ritualistic practices in pursuit of wealth.
Leave a Reply