‘Why I wanted using my 9-year-old son for ritual’

A 50-year-old Beninese, Bada Pome, has told the police in Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Lagos that he brought his nine-year-old son, Agbe Bada, from his village in Cotonou, Benin Republic, to Nigeria for money ritual.

The suspect, who was arrested along with three of his accomplices, admitted that he was lured into the act by one of his cousins who resided in Lagos.

The father of five said that his family was at the point of starving with no hope in sight, hence that he grabbed the offer when his cousin who resided in a village in Ajah convinced him about how rich he would become after the ritual had been performed.

He explained that, “It was my cousin who lured me into the plan when I told him of my financial state. I agreed to use Agbe who is my last child for the ritual.”

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The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Mohammed Ali, confirmed the arrest, saying that he directed detectives from the zone to investigate and arrest all those involved when he got wind of the plan,.

The AIG said that on interrogation, the suspect said he contacted his cousin who resided in Lagos on May 30, 2023, of his plans to use his son for money ritual.

He further said, “It was after they agreed that they both met with Ige Koselu at Ilaro in Ogun State, who introduced them to Segun Sile at Owodez, also in Ogun State. Segun promised to help them get a very strong herbalist.

“On July 17, my men started discussing with the suspects on phone under the pretense that they were the recruited herbalist.  

“During the discussion on phone, my men told them that the ritual proper would be performed on the 17.  They agreed to meet with the supposed herbalist on July 20, at Sango. They were rounded up at Sango in Ogun State by the team which brought them to the zonal headquarters for interrogation. They all admitted to the crime.”