Court Remands Three Suspects for Beheading Motorcyclist in Kwara

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court in Kwara State has remanded three men accused of beheading a commercial motorcyclist and stealing his motorcycle in Asunnara village. The suspects—Peter Samuel, Jeremiah Tiozina, and Sunday Agbenke—are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, theft, and unlawful possession or removal of human parts.

According to a police report, the crime was discovered around 2 a.m. when the victim’s headless body was found in a pool of blood near the riverbank. Authorities also recovered two Android phones at the scene, believed to belong to the victim and one of the suspects.

Investigations revealed that Samuel and Tiozina hired motorcyclist Raufu Akanno for a round trip to Olooru, agreeing to pay him ₦10,000, with an upfront deposit of ₦5,000. During the trip, Samuel allegedly made up an excuse to stop the motorcycle, claiming his cap had fallen off. Once stopped, the suspects attacked Akanno with a stick, beheaded him, and stole his motorcycle, according to court documents.

Prosecutor Nasir Yusuf requested that the accused be remanded in custody. Magistrate Saidu, who presided over the case, ordered their detention at the Oke Kura Federal Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until December 23, 2024.

Earlier, the Kwara State Police had arrested the same three suspects for the beheading of another motorcyclist in the Asunlere area of Oke Oyi, Ilorin. The motorcyclist’s head was severed, and his motorcycle stolen.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, confirmed the arrest and said that the suspects were identified as Peter Samuel, Jeremiah Tiozinda, and Sunday Agbenke. Items recovered from the scene included an Itel Android phone and the stolen motorcycle.

Olaiya stated that on November 4, 2024, police received a report from the residents of Asunlere about a headless body found near a stream. Investigating officers discovered signs of violence around the neck, indicating the victim had been decapitated. The body was later taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Further investigation led to the suspects’ arrest on November 6, 2024, after receiving reliable intelligence. The suspects confessed to the crime and revealed they had disposed of the victim’s severed head in a nearby river. Efforts to recover the head are ongoing.