Cleric kills 62-year-old woman, dumps corpse on bridge

So people can be this brutal...
The police in Lagos have arrested a cleric, Mr. Isiaka Akanbi, for allegedly killing a 62-year-old woman, Raliatu Kareem.The police also accused Akanbi of stealing the deceased’s wallet and other personal effects.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Akanbi, popularly called Alfa, had a traditional healing centre on Lawani Street, in the Olodi Apapa area of Lagos.

Our correspondent learnt that Kareem, who hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, had known Akanbi for about 20 years as she was a close customer of his. It was gathered that on Saturday, October 25,
Kareem, who lived on Ope-Ewe Street, Arnaldo Inside, Lagos, went to visit an elder sister, Risikatu Raheem, whose daughter put to bed in the Olodi
Apapa area.

She was said to have left Ijaiye after the monthly environmental exercise was over, informing her 20-year-old son, Abdullahi, of the visit to her
sister. Kareem reportedly stayed till around 6pm at her sister’s place on Salubi Street before she headed
for the Alfa’s place.

Our correspondent learnt that two days after, Kareem did not return home as she promised. The family became apprehensive and went on her trail
to the Olodi Apapa area.

After failing to locate Kareem at the sister’s apartment, some family members, who knew she was a friend of the cleric, decided to check the
Alfa’s place. On getting to Akanbi’s centre, PUNCH Metro learnt that the Alfa denied setting eyes on Kareem.

However, the family became suspicious when Akanbi reportedly started packing his property, and preparing to flee the house some hours later. The family was said to have raised the alarm and
headed for the Tolu Police Station to report the incident. The police later came to arrest Akanbi.

During interrogation, 55-year-old Akanbi told the police that he did not kill the woman, adding that she died in his place. Akanbi added that when he realised the woman was dead, he buried her
personal effects to erase any trace of her in his house.