Worshippers at a church in Orozo, a community bordering the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Nasarawa State, were shocked on Sunday when a man identified as Oluwatimileyin Ajayi was caught with the decapitated head of his girlfriend in a polybag during a service.
The horrifying event has caused widespread outrage in the community and online, as graphic images and videos of the suspect and the victim’s head circulated across social media platforms.
The incident took place around 11 a.m. during a thanksgiving service marking the conclusion of a seven-day fast.
Caleb Umaru, the church’s Bible Study Teacher and General Secretary, recounted the ordeal in an interview with PUNCH Online. He explained that a member of the congregation, Brother Victor, noticed a man acting suspiciously near a river close to the church during prayers. Victor alerted another member, Brother Amos, and the two investigated the situation.
They found Ajayi seated at the back of the church and saw him throwing a black nylon bag into the river. When questioned, Ajayi denied throwing anything into the water, and after further questioning yielded no answers, the men left him and returned to the church, remaining outside.
Shortly after, two bikemen arrived and inquired about a person they were searching for. When their description matched Ajayi, the bikemen identified him as the individual they had observed carrying a suspicious bag. One of the bikemen mentioned that he had picked up Ajayi from a neighboring town and noticed blood dripping from the bag, prompting him to call another bikeman for assistance in tracking the suspect.
The group confronted Ajayi, insisting that he retrieve the bag from the river. As church members gathered, the pastor was informed of the situation and joined the group before updating the congregation. Ajayi then attempted to flee but was chased down by the group, who eventually caught him in a bushy area after a lengthy pursuit.
Umaru noted that the bikemen attempted to beat Ajayi, but church members intervened to prevent further harm, ensuring he would be handed over to the authorities. Despite his injuries, Ajayi initially refused to disclose the bag’s contents. The pastor sought police assistance, and after some delay, a plainclothes officer arrived and began questioning Ajayi.
In a video shared online, Ajayi admitted to dating the victim for about a year. He claimed an argument arose after he found her chatting with another man on her phone. According to Ajayi, the victim attacked him with a knife, injuring his hand, before he retaliated by stabbing her in the neck.
Eventually, someone opened the nylon bag near the church, revealing a human head. Ajayi allegedly confessed that a woman had asked him to deliver the head and admitted he did not know the victim’s relatives, stating that she was from the Mararaba-Nyanya area.
Umaru reported that additional police officers arrived about 30 minutes later, taking Ajayi and the victim’s remains into custody. Videos shared online show the suspect being transported in a police van, alongside the decapitated head.
Netizens later identified Ajayi as a gospel singer. Umaru confirmed this, mentioning that a friend in Lagos recognized him as a gospel musician, though PUNCH Online could not independently verify this claim. Ajayi also described himself as a social media manager and content creator.
The shocking incident has left the church community deeply disturbed, with Umaru expressing that it was his first time witnessing such a gruesome event.