By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The city of Ilorin stood still as the remains of 23-year-old Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, were laid to rest on Monday, weeks after her brutal murder sent shockwaves across Nigeria.
Hafsoh was allegedly lured and killed by a Facebook acquaintance, AbdulRahman Bello, in a case that has gripped the nation with grief and outrage. Her dismembered body had been held by authorities for investigation purposes, but was finally released to her family after a Kwara State High Court granted an application filed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Sulyman.
With her remains finally returned, the burial proceeded at a cemetery in the Sango area of Ilorin, following Islamic rites. Emotions ran high as family members, friends, and sympathisers gathered to bid farewell to a young woman described as gentle, promising, and full of life.
Hafsoh’s father, Ibrahim Lawal Adefalu, who spoke after the burial, struggled to hold back tears. “We thank Almighty Allah for the opportunity to give our daughter a proper burial. This pain is too much for us to carry, but at least we now have some closure,” he said.
During the court session, the lead defence counsel, Chukwudi Maduka, did not oppose the release of the body and expressed condolences to the grieving family. “I sympathise with them even as the case progresses,” he noted.
Bello and four others Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and AbdulRahman Jamiu are currently facing trial for conspiracy and murder. The suspects are accused of orchestrating and executing the killing, which many described as one of the most chilling cases of cyber-luring in recent times.
For residents of Ilorin and Nigerians at large, the burial marks another painful reminder of the dangers lurking online. As the court proceedings continue, the family and advocates are calling for swift and firm justice.
“She was not just a student; she was someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s hope for tomorrow,” said a neighbour at the funeral. “We want justice, and we want it to be loud enough for others to hear.”
Though Hafsoh has been laid to rest, the cry for justice remains loud and for many, the healing has only just begun.