Teacher, Church Choir Master Arrested for Murder of 16-Year-Old WAEC Candidate

Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Oluseyi Babaseyi

Teacher, Church Choir Master Arrested for Murder of 16-Year-Old WAEC Candidate

A 30-year-old private school teacher and church choir master, Nathaniel Baiyegun, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for the alleged kidnapping and murder of his 16-year-old former student, a West African Senior School Certificate Examination candidate identified as Florence . In a shocking confession obtained by Saturday PUNCH, Baiyegun admitted that after the teenager died, he collected a ransom of N500,000 from her father and spent almost all of it on online sports betting . He is now in police custody facing charges of kidnapping and murder, while the police continue their investigation into the tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the Ogijo community in Sagamu Local Government Area .

The suspect, who taught Physics and Further Mathematics at a private school in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, and also served as the choir master of a Pentecostal church in the same community, was arrested following an investigation by the Anti-Kidnapping Section of the Ogun State Police Command . According to police sources, what initially appeared to be a missing person case quickly escalated into a kidnapping investigation and later a homicide case. The command’s image maker, CSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest and described the successful operation as a testament to the bravery and professionalism of the operatives involved .

According to Baiyegun’s confessional statement, he reconnected with the victim on April 7, 2026, while shooting content for his Instagram page in the community. The teenager had failed her O-Level examinations the previous year and was preparing to rewrite WASSCE. They exchanged contacts, and Baiyegun introduced her to his JAMB and WAEC coaching class, advising her to attend the coaching camp he was organizing for candidates. Baiyegun noted that he was not her direct teacher when she was in his former school, as she was in the humanities class while he taught only science students, but they became very close despite no amorous relationship between them .

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The turning point came when Baiyegun’s friend, identified simply as Sola, expressed interest in dating the teenager. On April 8, 2026, Baiyegun called the victim to come to his new school, where Sola was waiting behind the school premises. After Baiyegun left for his class, Sola allegedly demanded sex from the girl, which she declined, claiming she was on her menstrual period. When Baiyegun returned around 6:30 p.m., Sola had already left. The victim then requested transport fare to return home, but Baiyegun claimed he had no money on him, setting in motion a chain of events that would end in tragedy .

It was at this point, according to the suspect, that the pair planned a fake kidnapping together with the intention of extorting money from her family. “Both of us planned it together. The intention was to collect money from her family. She told me her father could not afford to pay ransom, but that she had a wealthy uncle who could pay. I initiated the kidnap,” Baiyegun reportedly told police. Instead of camping her in the school as she had suggested, Baiyegun took the teenager to an uncompleted building behind the school. Using her phone, he negotiated a ransom of N3 million from her father, communicating through her mobile device, a plan that would ultimately lead to her death .

The girl later complained that she could not sleep well on the first night because she was scared. Baiyegun then gave her four dosages of D5 sleeping tablets and left her there. He was away the following day attending his pastor’s father’s burial ceremony. He returned on the night of April 11, 2026. When he went to check on the girl, he discovered that she was gasping for breath. Instead of seeking medical help, the suspect quickly stopped a motorcycle and took her to a river in the MTN area of Ogijo, where he dumped her body. He lied to the bike rider that she was sick and that he was taking her to his aunt for treatment, a deception that allowed him to conceal his crime temporarily .

After the teenager had died and her body had been dumped, Baiyegun continued communicating with the victim’s father. The father eventually agreed to pay a ransom, sending N500,000 to the suspect. However, Baiyegun never informed the father that his daughter was already dead. “I lied to him that his daughter would be released as soon as the ransom was paid,” the suspect confessed. He then admitted, “I spent almost all the money on online sports betting, and I regret it now” – a chilling admission that has drawn widespread condemnation from members of the public and legal observers .

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Though Baiyegun claimed that the killing was accidental, preliminary police investigations revealed that he was allegedly involved in internet fraud and had at one time requested nude photographs from the deceased, which were reportedly sent to him through her mobile phone. Police sources also alleged that the suspect had attempted to force the teenager into a relationship with his friend before the kidnapping. These revelations have painted a darker picture of the suspect, who was expected to be a role model to his students and a respected figure in his church as a choir master .

In his confessional statement, Baiyegun provided more background about his relationship with the victim. “We became very close, but there was no amorous relationship between us. At times, she would go to my table in the staff room and drop gifts for me, even when I was not around,” he said. He claimed he had severed ties with her after an incident involving their former principal, where she asked him to lie on her behalf. “She lied to our then principal that she was coming to return my power bank to me after she was caught at a faraway location. It was true that I gave her my power bank, but she returned it to me at school. So, when she called me to tell me that I should help her lie to the principal that she had come to return my power bank when he saw her, I was very upset, and I severed my relationship with her,” he reportedly wrote in the statement .

CSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, while reacting to the incident on Friday, urged residents to be mindful of the company they keep. He commended the officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for their successful operation leading to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of incriminating exhibits . “The successful operation carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, leading to the arrest of the notorious suspect and recovery of incriminating exhibits, underscores the bravery, professionalism, and unwavering dedication of the operatives,” Babaseyi said .

The command expressed appreciation for the continued support of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, towards tactical policing, intelligence-led operations, and the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes. The command also acknowledged the strategic leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, which has continued to yield remarkable security successes within Ogun State . “The Ogun State Police Command assures residents that sustained efforts are being intensified to dismantle all criminal syndicates operating within the state and its environs, while urging members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information,” Babaseyi added .

As the investigation continues, Baiyegun remains in police custody. The tragic death of the 16-year-old WAEC candidate has sent shockwaves through the Ogijo community, raising troubling questions about the safety of students and the trust placed in educators. The suspect, who was expected to be a shining light to his students and choristers, now faces the full weight of the law for the alleged kidnapping and murder of a young girl who once looked up to him as a mentor and guide. The case has also reignited conversations about the prevalence of online sports betting addiction among young Nigerians and its potentially devastating consequences when combined with criminal desperation.