By Abigail Philip David
Worshippers in a church at Orozo, a border community between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and Nasarawa State, were left in shock on Sunday after a man, identified as Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, was caught carrying the severed head of his girlfriend in a plastic bag during a service.
The disturbing incident occurred around 11 a.m. during a thanksgiving service marking the end of a seven-day fast. Graphic images and videos of Ajayi and the decapitated head of a young woman have since gone viral, sparking outrage and fear across the community and online platforms.
Caleb Umaru, the church’s Bible Study Teacher and General Secretary, recounted the incident in an interview. According to him, a church member, Brother Victor, noticed Ajayi moving suspiciously near a river close to the church while prayers were ongoing. He alerted another member, Brother Amos, and together they approached Ajayi, who was sitting quietly at the back of the church.
Upon noticing them, Ajayi threw a black nylon bag into the nearby river, which had low water levels due to the dry season. When questioned about what he discarded, Ajayi denied throwing anything. The men, suspicious but unsure, left him and returned to their observation post outside the church.
Shortly after, two commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) arrived at the scene, asking if anyone had seen a man matching Ajayi’s description. One of the bikemen explained that he had transported Ajayi from a neighboring town, Loko-Tiye, and noticed blood dripping from the bag Ajayi was carrying. Feeling uneasy, the rider had called a colleague to help trace Ajayi after he abruptly requested to stop near the church.
The bikemen and the church members confronted Ajayi, demanding he retrieve the bag he had thrown into the river. As the situation escalated, the pastor was informed and alerted the congregation.
Sensing danger, Ajayi suddenly fled, prompting a chase. After a strenuous pursuit through a bushy area, the four men managed to overpower him. Umaru described it as a “miraculous intervention” that Ajayi was still near the church when caught.
The bikemen reportedly struck Ajayi with sticks during the struggle, but church members intervened to prevent them from killing him, insisting the matter should be reported to the police. Injured and weak, Ajayi still refused to reveal the bag’s contents.
Efforts to contact the police took over 30 minutes, but eventually, an officer in plain clothes arrived. In a video circulating online, the officer interrogated Ajayi, asking how long he had been dating the victim. Ajayi replied, “Like a year.”
Ajayi explained the knife injuries on his hand by claiming he had argued with his girlfriend after discovering she was chatting with another man. He said she attacked him with a knife, and in retaliation, he stabbed her in the neck.
The plastic bag was eventually opened, revealing the gruesome content—a human head. Umaru recalled someone rushing back to inform the group that the bag contained a human head, sending more people to witness the shocking discovery.
When asked why he had the head, Ajayi reportedly said a woman instructed him to bring it to her. He also mentioned that his girlfriend was from Mararaba, Nyanya, but claimed he did not know her family.
Ajayi was later taken into police custody after officers arrived and transported him and the severed head in a police van.
Online users have identified Ajayi as a gospel singer, a claim Umaru said was mentioned by one of Ajayi’s friends from Lagos. However, this detail remains unverified. Ajayi also claimed to be a social media manager and content creator.
Efforts to reach the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, were unsuccessful. The FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, clarified that Orozo falls under Nasarawa State’s jurisdiction.
The incident has deeply unsettled the church and the wider community. Umaru expressed his shock, saying, “This was my first time seeing something like this physically. I only watch it. I have not seen something like this before.”
