Court Sentences Two To Death, One To Life In Prison For Ritual Killing In Ogun

An Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta has sentenced three men over the gruesome murder of 16-year-old girl, Sofia Okeowo in the Kugba area of Abeokuta South Local Government.

In the judgment delivered on July 11, Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora sentenced Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging, while Lukmon Abdulgafar was given a life sentence.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Oluwasina Ogungbade.

According to court findings, the incident occurred on January 28, 2022, when the victim visited Balogun, her boyfriend.

He was said to have had sexual intercourse with her before strangling her with the help of Majekodunmi.

The convicts then beheaded her and removed parts of her thighs while her remains were stuffed into a sack.

The victim’s head was taken to Abdulgafar’s house, where it was burnt using a local burner.

A viral video that surfaced shortly after the incident showed the suspects burning the head while chanting incantations before they were caught by local security guards.

In the statement, the Commissioner said the judgment reflects the government’s resolve to combat ritual killings and other violent crimes in the state.

The statement reads, “Today, July 11, 2025, the trio of  Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon Abdulgafar faces the full wrath of the law over the gruesome killing of Sofia Okeowo.

“The dastardly act which occurred on January 28th 2022, around Kugba, Abeokuta saw Mustakeem Balogun lure 16-year-old Sofia to have canal knowledge of her and later kill her in preparation for a premeditated money ritual charms.

“The two other culprits are Soliudeen Majekodunmi and Lukman Abdulgafar.

“Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court has, however, found the trio guilty of the crime committed and has therefore sentenced Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging while Lukman Abdulgafar received a life sentence.”

The state government urged the public to report suspicious activities and continue to support law enforcement efforts.

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KanyiDaily also reported how Obi Levi Obieze, a native doctor from Enugu known as Ezeani, who was recently arrested over allegations of kidnapping and ritual killings.