The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a 15-year-old boy, Gobri Yusuf, for allegedly killing his aunt who adopted and raised him in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday at the police headquarters in Ilorin. According to him, the suspect is currently in police custody while investigation into the case continues.
The incident has shocked residents of the area, especially because the victim was said to have cared for the teenager for several years after taking responsibility for his upbringing.
Police said the victim, identified as Akanbi A., was found dead inside her home after a distress report was made to the authorities.
According to the police commissioner, the command received the distress call on January 14, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m.
He said the report stated that a woman had been discovered lying in a pool of blood inside her residence.
“On January 14, 2026, at about 2030hrs, a distress report was received concerning the discovery of one Akanbi A. in a pool of blood at her residence,” Ojo said.
Police officers immediately moved to the scene and began an investigation to determine what had happened.
Initial investigations by the police later pointed to the teenage boy who had been living with the victim.
According to Ojo, the suspect allegedly hid behind a door in the house and attacked the woman while she was bathing.
The police commissioner explained that the teenager reportedly used several household items during the attack.
“Findings revealed that the suspect, who was residing with the deceased, allegedly concealed himself behind a door and attacked her while she was bathing using household items,” he said.
The police said the attack led to serious injuries that eventually caused the woman’s death.
During the investigation, police officers recovered several items believed to have been used in carrying out the attack.
The recovered items include a frying pan, a weighing scale, a kitchen turning stick, and kitchen knives.
According to the police commissioner, these items have been taken into evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.
The police also said the teenager allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Ojo said the suspect told investigators that he carried out the act because of resentment toward the victim.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that the act was motivated by resentment,” the commissioner said.
The police also revealed that the suspect claimed he had earlier tried to poison the woman but failed.
This claim is now part of the investigation as officers continue to examine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the police, the suspect did not immediately reveal what had happened after the attack.
Instead, he allegedly changed his clothes and left the house as if he was going out on an errand.
Police said the teenager later contacted the victim’s husband, which eventually led to the discovery of the body.
“After committing the offence, he changed his clothes and left the residence under the pretext of running an errand,” Ojo said.
He added that the suspect later called the deceased woman’s husband, who then came home and discovered his wife lying lifeless.
The husband later reported the matter, which triggered the police investigation that led to the suspect’s arrest.
The police commissioner said the suspect is still in custody and will remain there while investigators gather more evidence.
He added that the case would follow due legal process after the investigation is completed.
Ojo also noted that because the suspect is a minor, the law requires that the investigation and prosecution be handled carefully in line with existing legal provisions.
In Nigeria, minors involved in criminal cases are usually handled under the Child Rights Act and other laws that guide juvenile justice.
However, serious offences such as murder can still lead to prosecution under the criminal justice system.
The police said further details would be made public as the investigation progresses.
The incident has raised concerns among residents about rising cases of violent crimes within families and communities.
Although cases involving teenagers committing serious crimes remain relatively rare, security experts say they often draw public attention because of the age of the suspects and the nature of the relationship with victims.
In recent years, there have been occasional reports of disputes within families leading to tragic outcomes.
Social workers and psychologists often link such incidents to unresolved family conflicts, emotional stress, or lack of supervision.
The Nigeria Police Force is responsible for investigating criminal offences across the country.
When a serious crime such as murder is reported, police officers are expected to secure the scene, gather evidence, question witnesses, and arrest suspects when necessary.
The findings are later forwarded to prosecutors who decide whether to file charges in court.
In cases involving minors, the law also requires authorities to consider the age and welfare of the suspect while ensuring justice for the victim.
Residents in Ilorin have expressed shock over the incident, especially because the victim was said to have raised the teenager as her own child.
Many community members described the situation as painful and difficult to understand.
Some residents also called for stronger family support systems and better attention to the emotional well-being of young people.
Others urged parents and guardians to pay close attention to the behaviour of children under their care.
The Kwara State Police Command said investigations into the case are still ongoing.
Police officials are expected to continue questioning the suspect and gathering more information about the events that led to the incident.
After the investigation is completed, the case file may be forwarded to the appropriate legal authorities for further action.
