"He Killed My Daughter and Tried to Hide It" — Mother of 25-Year-Old Adijat Pereira Speaks Out

Balikis Olanrewaju, 50, is still reeling from the loss of her daughter, Adijat Pereira, a 25-year-old Mass Communication graduate who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Omotolani Taiwo, also known as Daine. In this emotional interview with Grace Edema, the grieving mother recounts the chilling events leading up to the discovery of her daughter's body.

The Morning Everything Changed

It all started on Thursday, February 27th, when Adijat’s boss called me, saying she hadn’t shown up at work. It was unusual. I asked my neighbours to check in on her. They confirmed seeing her the previous night, but by morning, she was nowhere to be found. Her room was open, but she was gone.

I kept calling her phone with no answer. Her former boyfriend, Daine, later called, acting concerned. He claimed he’d been trying to reach her too. At one point, he even used her number to send a message pretending to be her, saying her battery was low and asking me to switch to WhatsApp. I didn't know then he already had her phone—and that my daughter was no longer alive.

The Truth Unfolds

Around 8:30 pm, Daine called again. This time, he said Adijat had come to his place the night before, they argued, and she hadn’t woken up in hours—he suspected she had fainted. He offered to send the address. I rushed there immediately.

When we arrived at the house in Iyana Ekoro, Abule-Egba, I saw something that made me faint. A person in white appeared at the door, then a gust of air pushed me back. When my family went inside, they found Adijat’s lifeless body on the bed, covered with a towel.

But it was what else they found that shook us to the core—a bowl of blood, a calabash, and what looked like ritual items. Her eyes had been gouged, her head struck with an axe. He had drained her blood into a bowl and tried to clean the scene with charms before fleeing.

Cover-Up and Delays

The police later confirmed she had been dead since Wednesday night, and her body was kept in an air-conditioned room. When we went to the police station, we weren’t even allowed to see her. Daine’s family later contacted us, trying to appear concerned, but they had already visited her father’s home—possibly trying to smooth things over.

Meanwhile, we discovered even more injuries at the mortuary. Her hand had been broken and bandaged, likely post-mortem. It was clear she had fought for her life.

Struggles for Justice

I took the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, after hearing that the matter might be buried at the local station. The SCID said they had taken over and sealed Daine’s home. They also began contacting the suspect’s family, who have since avoided showing up at the station.

Now, we’re awaiting an autopsy and other formal processes. But it’s dragging, and I’m afraid the case might be silenced.

A Mother’s Plea

Adijat was my joy. She was gentle, kind, always smiling, and never caused trouble. She was just 25. I raised her as a single mother and sacrificed everything for my children, even after an accident left me with one functional hand.

I’m begging the government, Governor Sanwo-Olu, and all well-meaning Nigerians—please don’t let my daughter’s death go unanswered. I need justice for Adijat. Her killer should not walk free.

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