THE NASSARAWA State High Court has ordered the remand of Timilehin Ajayi, a gospel singer, following allegations linking him to the tragic death of Salome Adaidu, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. The case has left the local community in shock and sparked a wider conversation about safety and justice in the region.

Ajayi was apprehended after churchgoers became suspicious of his actions near a river. Caleb Umaru, a respected member of the church, explained that one of their members noticed Ajayi acting unusually before he discarded a bag into the water. Upon retrieval, the bag was found to contain human remains, leading to his immediate arrest.

“Timilehin Ajayi was charged to court today and remanded in prison custody pending his formal arraignment,” the Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The police investigation revealed that Ajayi claimed to have been in a relationship with the deceased and alleged infidelity as his motive. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to the crime but displayed no remorse for his actions.

“She was my girlfriend, and she was cheating on me, so I killed her,” Ajayi reportedly told investigators. However, this assertion has been vehemently denied by the family of the late Ms Adaidu, who maintained that she had no romantic ties to the accused.

This tragic event is not an isolated case. Nigeria has seen a series of incidents involving alleged ritual-related crimes. In 2023, law enforcement agencies reported multiple arrests of individuals linked to similar cases, including a barber in Ogun State and a group in Anambra State found in possession of human remains.

The incident has left the church community and residents reeling. “This has shaken our trust in someone we thought we knew well,” Umaru said.