Habibat Akinsanya, an 18-year-old girl reported missing, was tragically found dead on her father’s farm in Obasa, Mile 6, along Ajebo Road in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The body was discovered on Sunday, August 31, 2024, showing signs of severe violence, including multiple machete wounds to her head and other parts of her body, with her hands bound behind her back.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Akinsanya was sexually assaulted before being murdered. According to police sources, the brutal attack may be related to a revenge plot against the family, though further details about a possible connection to cult activities have not been disclosed.
The Ogun State Police Command has classified the incident as a premeditated murder. Akinsanya’s father, Shamsuddeen, reported her missing to the Kemta Police Division on August 31, 2024. She had left her home on August 30, 2024, to assist her sister, who operates a Point of Sale business in the Kemta area. She was allegedly approached by Onyeka, a primary suspect in the case, who reportedly told her that her mother needed her at the farm for a cassava harvest.
The family grew concerned when Akinsanya did not return home or appear at her sister’s shop. This prompted Shamsuddeen to report her disappearance to the police. The father also mentioned receiving a phone call from someone demanding money, but this lead did not immediately result in finding Akinsanya.
“The father reported that Akinsanya had left to assist at her sister’s shop but did not return. There is no indication of kidnapping; rather, it appears she was lured to the farm under false pretenses,” said a police spokesperson. The investigation revealed that Akinsanya was restrained, raped, and then murdered by the perpetrator.
A search was conducted based on the phone number used to demand money, but it did not lead to immediate results. The girl’s body was eventually discovered after a tip-off.
Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola confirmed that an investigation is underway and a manhunt has been launched to apprehend Onyeka, who is currently at large. She noted that the standard procedure involves waiting 24 to 48 hours before filing a missing person report, but that a discreet investigation is ongoing to uncover the full circumstances of the crime.