Tragedy in Ilorin: Husband Confesses to Killing Wife, Harvesting Her Body Parts for Rituals…. dies after arrest, with stomach swelling in mysterious manner 

By Omowumi Omotosho and Bamidele Aremu

The husband of the pregnant woman who was gruesomely murdered for suspected ritual purpose and whose dismembered body was discovered at the couple’s residence in Egbejila area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital about a fortnight ago  has confessed to the killing.

The husband, a 45-year-old man identified by the police as Ekene Enemor confessed that he killed the wife, 39-year old Esther and harvested her body for ritual purposes.

Ekene was based in Moshe Gada village in Kaiama, kwara north while he kept another residence in Temidire Zone 6 community, Egbejila, Ilorin where the gruesome murder was perpetrated.

 National Pilot had visited the area on Saturday August, 23rd, 2025, when the incident happened.  Residents and neighbours had  described the incident as horrifying and suspicious. A neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had told the National Pilot that the Enemors were not well-known in the neighborhood.

“They are Igbos. We don’t really know them in particular or their occupation. They usually come at night, and sometimes it was only through the rays of light that we knew they were around. They don’t really live here,” the neigbour stated.

She further narrated how her husband, while fetching water, encountered a man wearing a facemask leaving the compound on the night of the incident.

“He challenged him, and the man removed his mask, identifying himself as the husband’s younger brother. He locked the door from outside and left. It was then my husband realized something was wrong. A woman had been in the building, but a man left. He called out to the woman from the window, but there was no response. Moments later, we discovered traces of blood in the compound. That was when we raised an alarm,” she added.

Another resident, who also requested anonymity, had also confirmed to National Pilot that when the police arrived, they searched the house before moving to clear the bush behind it.

“It was during the clearing that the woman’s lower body was discovered. From the pelvic upward was nowhere to be found,” the resident disclosed.

The Kwara state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo during a press briefing at the Kwara State Police Headquarters in Ilorin on Thursday, described the case as “a most horrific example of human cruelty.”

“On August 22, 2025, at about 1500hrs, one Ahmed Salman of Temidire 6, Off Egbejila, reported to Budo Nuhu Police Station that he had challenged a man who was locking up the door of his neighbour’s house while the wife, popularly known as Iya Ibo, was still inside,” Adekimi explained.

According to him, the man identified himself as the younger brother of the house owner, Mr. Ekene Enemor but ” Mr. Ahmed Salman was not satisfied with the explanation. He then knocked on the door to call Mrs. Esther but got no response. In the process, he saw traces of bloodstains on the fence and on the wall of the house.”

Alarmed by the discovery, Salman alerted other neighbours. Together, they searched the premises and made a chilling find.

“A search was conducted around the house and, tragically, the mutilated body of Mrs. Esther Enemor was found — from the neck to waist, without her head and both hands. Further combing of the environment led to the recovery of another part of her body — from the waist to the thigh — which was discovered hidden under a culvert in the area, also without her legs.

“Upon report of the incident, the deceased’s husband was contacted at Moshe Gada village, Kaiama, while his younger brother, Sylvester Enemor ‘M’, of the same village, was also arrested. The case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. Discreet investigation led to the arrest of Mr. Ekene Enemor, husband to the deceased,” the police boss said.

The case was immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) where discreet investigations linked Esther’s husband, Ekene Enemor, directly to the crime.

“During comprehensive interrogation, it was discovered that he had a direct hand in the death of his wife. He has confessed to the commission of the crime. Investigation is ongoing to track and apprehend other suspects currently at large,” Adekimi added.

When asked about deceased’s husband, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that although other suspects connected to the crime remain at large, the husband died in hospital while being treated for wound he sustained during arrest. Adekimi added that before he suspect died, his stomach suddenly started swelling.

At the press briefing, Adekimi disclosed that the police has taken two men into custody for allegedly killing a 28-year-old herder, Mohammed Altini, and concealing his body in an abandoned well in Patigi Local Government Area.

The suspects, identified as farmer, Ahmed Legbo and vigilante member, Baba Jiya, were apprehended after intelligence-led investigations.

According to him, the matter was first reported on August 26, 2025, by the victim’s father, Alhaji Mohammed Jenyun, at the Patigi Divisional Headquarters. The police chief narrated that on August 22, Altini and his brother, Abubakar, had taken their cattle out through different grazing paths. While Abubakar returned home safely, Altini’s herd came back without him.

“The police immediately mobilised a search party. In the course of combing the bush, the slippers and other belongings of the missing herdsman were discovered. Further investigations led to the arrest of the two suspects,” Adekimi said.

He further stated that under interrogation, the duo admitted to shooting Altini and later disposing of his body in a deserted well.

“His corpse was later recovered with a gunshot wound to the chest. The dane gun used in committing the crime has also been recovered as an exhibit,” the police boss stated.

Also, the police confirmed the arrest of 44 individuals linked to various crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual activities, fraud, theft, and unlawful possession of firearms, within the past month.

During the operations, police operatives also recovered several exhibits, ranging from weapons to electronic gadgets, alongside a cash sum of ₦2.7 million believed to be ransom proceeds from kidnapping activities.

Ojo said that the arrested suspects include kidnappers, fraudster, armed robbers, ritualists, thieves, and those arrested for illegal possession of firearm.

He listed recovered items from the suspects as one dane gun, two empty AK-47 shells and a live round of ammunition, a locally fabricated barrel pistol, forged documents, one Toyota Camry car, an assortment of gadgets including a coloured Airpod, three New Age 33,000mAh power banks, one 44,000mAh New Age power bank, and five Oraimo 30,000mAh power banks.