The family of Salome Adaidu, a 24-year-old serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied any knowledge of a relationship between her and Timileyin Ajayi, the man who was caught with her severed head.
Adaidu, who was serving in Abuja, was reportedly killed during a visit to Ajayi’s residence in the Papalana area of New Karshi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Her elder sister, Esther Adaidu, strongly refuted claims of a connection between the deceased and the suspect. “This so-called Timi guy, we don’t know him. We have never seen him until we were called up to tell us that this guy murdered and dismembered our sister.
“I demand and need justice to be served to this guy sitting over there because he is the one that murdered my sister and he confirmed it to me,” she said.
The family’s stance was reiterated by Samson Adaidu, the victim’s uncle, who revealed the gruesome details of the crime. “The position of the family is we discovered this through the Nigerian Police, and we are expecting justice from the police,” he said.
He added, “He has succeeded in destroying our daughter, not ordinary killing, he butchered her into pieces. He cut that body into more than 50 pieces and left them in about six polythene bags, seemingly preparing the body for consumption.”
Ajayi was arrested on Sunday, January 12, while attempting to dispose of Adaidu’s severed head. He was subsequently paraded at the Nasarawa State Police Command headquarters, along with the knife and machetes allegedly used in the crime.
Appearing visibly injured from a mob attack prior to his arrest, Ajayi admitted to the killing during an interview with Channels Television. He claimed it was unplanned and driven by jealousy.
“I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time. It’s not something I planned. It happened on that day. Not that I had the plan in mind, she was cheating. She hides most things from me. I saw her chats with other guys on her phone, and that was why I decided,” he confessed.
When asked if he regretted his actions Ajayi said, “I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal. If you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person. You have to understand what that person is going through so that you can actually put yourself in their position. That is why I don’t have any regrets because we were actually compatible.”
The Nasarawa State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, assured the public that justice would be served. “Investigation is ongoing, and upon conclusion, he will be arraigned in court for prosecution.
I want to assure the family and members of the public that this suspect will not be spared if found wanting. We are calling on members of the public who may have any complaints against the suspect to come forward with their complaints, and it will be looked into and investigated,” he said.
While some media reports referred to Ajayi as a gospel singer, he identified himself as a cryptocurrency trader during the interview with Channels Television.
