A gospel singer has been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of the brutal murder of a young woman he had been in a relationship with. The judgment was delivered on Thursday, June 26, by a High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The accused, Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, was found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Salome Adaidu, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. According to court proceedings, the singer killed and dismembered the victim. He was arrested in January after being caught with her severed head near a church in the Orozo area.
The disturbing crime shocked the nation. In a viral video recorded by bystanders, Ajayi was seen being questioned about the human head he was carrying. He admitted that the deceased was his girlfriend and claimed they had dated for a year, though her family later denied this claim. Police reports indicate that Salome was murdered when she visited Ajayi at his residence in the Papalana area of New Karshi, in Karu Local Government. Weapons suspected to have been used in the crime—including knives and machetes—were recovered from the scene.
The case moved swiftly through the justice system. Given the high public interest, the presiding judge called for an expedited trial process. Despite pleading not guilty, Ajayi was found responsible for the gruesome act and was sentenced accordingly.
Following the verdict, members of Salome’s family expressed relief and a sense of closure. Her mother, visibly emotional, stated that while nothing could bring her daughter back, she believed justice had been achieved. A relative spoke of Salome’s aspirations, revealing that the young woman had started a professional course and had dreams of building a better future.
Public reaction to the sentencing was strong and emotional. Many expressed support for the court’s decision, calling it a just and necessary response to such a horrific crime. Social media was flooded with comments from individuals who praised the judgment as a warning to others that no one is above the law.
Some individuals voiced anger over Ajayi’s lack of remorse, referencing reports that he showed no regret for the killing. Others drew comparisons to past high-profile murder cases, highlighting a perceived rise in gender-based violence and calling for even stronger measures to protect women.
The case has reignited discussions about capital punishment in Nigeria. While death sentences remain legal in the country for crimes such as murder, the actual execution of such sentences has been rare in recent years. Still, the symbolic weight of the judgment has been seen as a critical moment in the fight for justice for victims of domestic and intimate partner violence.
In a similar case in Kenya, another high-profile murder involving Joseph Irungu, also known as Jowie, resulted in a death sentence. That judgment, delivered in early 2024, underscored how courts across Africa are increasingly using the full extent of the law to address violent crimes.
As for the late Salome, her family continues to mourn her loss while hoping her tragic story serves as a wake-up call and a call to action for a safer society.
