The shocking death of 24-year-old Salome Adaidu has ignited grief and outrage among Nigerians, particularly on social media. A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Abuja, Salome was allegedly beheaded in Nasarawa State by a man described as her boyfriend.
The suspect, Timileyin Ajayi, a gospel singer, was apprehended on Sunday near a church. Witnesses reportedly became suspicious after noticing he was carrying a severed human head in a bag. Concerned passersby confronted him, leading to his arrest by the police.
Confirming the incident, Ramhan Nansel, spokesperson for the Nasarawa State Police, stated, “The suspect was found with a fresh human head. When we arrived at the scene, we rescued him from being mobbed.” Subsequent investigations reportedly uncovered additional dismembered body parts at Ajayi’s residence.
Salome Adaidu’s death has left her family devastated, particularly her mother, who is still mourning the loss of her husband just seven months ago. A close friend of the deceased, Abby Simon, shared with BBC Pidgin, “This is a heartbreaking experience for her mum, who fainted upon hearing the news. Nobody deserves to die like this. Even if she were his girlfriend, she didn’t deserve such a cruel end.”
Simon also denied claims that Adaidu had been in a relationship with the suspect, countering earlier reports that described Ajayi as her boyfriend.
The victim’s sister, Patience Adaidu, expressed frustration with the handling of the case. Speaking to News Central, she criticized the police for their lack of transparency. “Police have not given us any information about my sister… They haven’t answered our questions. We demand justice and are pleading for help from Nigerians,” she said.
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The police have assured the public that investigations into the gruesome incident are underway. However, the case has triggered an outpouring of anger and calls for justice across social media platforms.
In addition to mourning Adaidu, many Nigerians have expressed solidarity with her grieving family, urging authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The Adaidu family has also called on the Nigerian government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
