Police arrest 2 over ritual killing

The police in Ogun State have arrested a 29-year-old herbalist, Baoku Gbuyi and a 27-year-old bricklayer, Olamide Odulaja, for allegedly killing one Mrs Modupeola Folorunsho and her son, Peter, for money ritual.

They were arrested following a report at the Ijebu Igbo division of the Nigeria Police Force by Modupeola’s husband on February 14, informing them of his missing wife and son.

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He told the police that his wife and the four-year-old son had left the house the previous day but were yet to return, and all efforts to locate them were fruitless.

The spokesman of the police in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Sunday told newsmen in Abeokuta that following the report, detectives from Ijebu Igbo were detailed to commence investigation, which eventually led to the arrest of Odulaja in Ibadan.

“Upon interrogation, Odulaja confessed that he and one herbalist abducted the victim and her son on February 13, 2021 and killed them for money ritual. He said the woman was killed in the house of the herbalist, who also burnt her head,” Oyeyemi said.

He said the confession led detectives to the herbalist, who resides at Araromi Street, Japara, Ijebu Igbo.

Oyeyemi said that when the detectives arrived at the herbalist’s residence, he had fled, having learnt of Odulaja’s arrest. He, however, said the herbalist was eventually traced to Kajola village, where he was arrested by the divisional police officer at Awa Ijebu, with the assistance of hunters and local vigilantes.

He said, “Upon interrogation, the herbalist confessed that it was Odulaja who approached him for money making ritual, following which he asked him to bring a head of a human being as one of the materials to be used.

“He further said they both conspired to abduct the woman and her son and slaughter for that purpose. He confessed that he burnt the woman’s head with some herb materials, which he gave to Olamide to use. He also said the remains of the little boy were dumped inside a pit latrine.’’

Oyeyemi said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further action.