Three years after the brutal killing of 16-year-old Sofiat Okeowo in Ogun State, justice has finally been served on her killers.
Sofiat, a young fashion designer and bread seller, fell victim to a deadly plot orchestrated by her 18-year-old boyfriend, Majekodunmi Soliudeen, and his accomplice, Balogun Mustakeem, in the Oke-Aregba, Kugba area of Abeokuta. What began as a casual visit ended in horror as Sofiat was sexually assaulted, strangled, and beheaded in a gruesome ritual killing. Her remains were mutilated, her body stuffed into a sack, while her head was taken to the residence of Abdulgafar Lukmon, where it was burnt in a local burner.
The culprits—Soliudeen (18), Mustakeem (20), Lukmon (19), and Waris Oladeinde (17)—were apprehended by the police while performing ritual incantations over her remains.
The Last Friday
Reports indicate that Sofiat, the fourth child of her family, had long been cautioned to avoid her boyfriend. Despite warnings from her 60-year-old mother, she left home around 7:30 p.m. on that fateful Friday under the pretext of a brief outing—leaving her pot of beans cooking on the stove. She never returned.
Her elder sister, Muinat Okeowo, recounted how their initial worry escalated when Sofiat’s phone became unreachable later that night. The family’s worst fears were confirmed the following day when news broke of a ritual murder in Oke-Aregba.
Further investigations revealed that Sofiat had previously dated Mustakeem but ended the relationship after family disapproval. Mustakeem later introduced her to Soliudeen, setting the stage for the tragic end barely two months into their relationship.
The Arrest and Confessions
Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that the suspects confessed during interrogation. They admitted to luring Sofiat to her death, beheading her, and discarding her remains in an abandoned building.
A cutlass and knife used in the murder were recovered, while Sofiat’s dismembered body was deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
Court Proceedings and Remand
On 3rd February 2022, the trio of Soliudeen, Mustakeem, and Lukmon were arraigned before Chief Magistrate I.O. Abudu at the Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on charges of conspiracy and murder. The court ordered their remand at the Oba Correctional Centre pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Waris Oladeinde, however, was later discharged in March 2022 following a DPP recommendation, having been found to have arrived at the crime scene post facto.
Judgment Delivered—July 11, 2025
In a landmark ruling on Friday, 11th July 2025, Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court delivered judgment. Mustakeem and Soliudeen were sentenced to death by hanging, while Lukmon received a life sentence.
Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, who confirmed the verdict, praised the relentless efforts of the Ministry’s prosecutors and the state’s security agencies.
“Ogun State has won this case. The convicts have been conclusively excluded from civilised society,” Ogungbade stated. “We are proud to have provided closure for Sofiat’s family and reaffirm our commitment to upholding justice.”
A Cautionary Note to Youths
Ogungbade used the occasion to issue a stern warning against involvement in ritual killings and illicit practices, urging young people to pursue education, legitimate enterprise, and moral uprightness.
He charged the public to uphold traditional values of hard work and collective responsibility, stressing that the Ministry of Justice remains vigilant and uncompromising in prosecuting offenders.
