Worshippers at a church in Orozo, a community located on the border between the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) and Nasarawa State, were shocked on Sunday when a man named Oluwatimileyin Ajayi was caught carrying the severed head of his girlfriend in a plastic bag during a church service.
The incident, which occurred during a thanksgiving service around 11 a.m., has sparked widespread outrage as disturbing photos and videos of the suspect and the victim’s remains have circulated online. The church was concluding a seven-day fasting program when the shocking event unfolded.
Caleb Umaru, the church’s Bible Study Teacher and General Secretary, recounted the events during an interview with Drivetvnews.
“Toward the end of the service, during the final prayers, a member of the church, Brother Victor, noticed someone behaving strangely near a river close to the church. The man was carrying a suspicious bag, which caught Victor’s attention. He informed another member, Brother Amos, and they decided to investigate,” Umaru said.
The two men discovered Ajayi sitting at the back of the church. When they approached him, he quickly threw a black plastic bag into the river.
“They asked him what he had thrown into the river, but he denied throwing anything. When they couldn’t get any answers, they returned to the church but remained alert,” Umaru explained.
Shortly after, two motorcyclists arrived at the scene.
“The bikemen asked if anyone matching a certain description had passed through, and when the church members confirmed, they directed the bikemen to Ajayi, who was still sitting behind the church. I believe this was divine intervention,” Umaru said.
One of the bikemen disclosed that he had transported Ajayi from a nearby town, Loko-Tiye, and had noticed blood dripping from the bag he was carrying. When questioned about the bag, Ajayi evaded the question and asked to be dropped near the church.
Suspicious of his behavior, the bikeman called a colleague to assist in tracing him. Together with the church members, they confronted Ajayi and demanded he retrieve the bag he had thrown into the river.
As the situation escalated, more church members gathered outside, and the pastor was informed.
The pastor briefly addressed the congregation about the unfolding situation and then joined those questioning Ajayi. Sensing danger, Ajayi suddenly attempted to flee but was pursued and apprehended by the bikemen and church members.
“It took a lot of effort to catch him because he ran deep into a bushy area. The bikemen struck him with sticks, but the church members intervened to prevent him from being killed, wanting the law to take its course,” Umaru said.
Despite being weakened and injured, Ajayi refused to disclose the contents of the bag. However, a church member retrieved it from the river, and it was discovered to contain a human head.
When a police officer eventually arrived, Ajayi confessed to killing his girlfriend. He claimed they had a fight after he saw her chatting with another man on her phone. According to him, she attacked him with a knife, injuring his hand, and he retaliated by stabbing her in the neck.
Ajayi also revealed that a woman had instructed him to bring the head. He stated that his girlfriend was from the Mararaba-Nyanya area but admitted he did not know her family.
The church community remains deeply shaken by the event. “This is the first time I’ve witnessed something so horrifying in real life. I’ve only seen such things in movies,” Umaru said.
The police eventually arrived, taking Ajayi and the severed head into custody. Videos shared online captured the suspect being interrogated and later transported in a police vehicle.
Ajayi was identified online as a gospel singer, a claim supported by a friend from Lagos. During police questioning, he also described himself as a social media manager and content creator.
Efforts to contact Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer Ramhan Nansel for further comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report. The Federal Capital Territory Police clarified that the Orozo area falls under the jurisdiction of Nasarawa State.
