Operatives of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a herbalist, his wife and his friend over allegation that they killed a seven-year-old son for ritual.
The herbalist, Lajuwon Ogunleye, his wife, Adetutu Apalaya, and his friend, Fatai Sefiu, were arrested on April 22, 2020.
They were alleged to have conspired to murder seven-year-old Pelumi Apalaya, for ritual purpose.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ogun State Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspects were arrested based on an information received at Abigi Police Divisional Headquarters.
According to Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), it was reported that the boy who didn’t show any sign of sickness, suddenly slumped and died.
He said this aroused the suspicion of people around that the boy might have been used for ritual.
“Upon their suspicion, the people around started monitoring the herbalist, who incidentally is the step father of the deceased and his wife, who is the mother of the boy.
“Unknown to them, they were monitored to the bush where they took the victim for burial in the company of the third suspect who is a friend to the herbalist and the boy was buried in an upright position after removing some parts from his body.
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“This confirmed the suspicion of the people and they quickly informed the police,” the police image maker said.
He said with the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Abigi Division, Tarkighir Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), led his men in an operation at Iwopin Area of Ijebu waterside, where the suspects were rounded up.
“They led policemen to where the victim was buried and it was discovered that the deceased was buried in standing position.
“On interrogation, Fatai Sefiu told the detectives that the boy was actually used for ritual by the step father in connivance with the boy’s mother. He stated further that the couple had reached a conclusion before he was co-opted into the business,” the PPRO Revealed.
According to him, the mother of the victim initially denied having knowledge of her husband’s plan to use her son for ritual.
“She was, however, dumbfounded when asked whether or not she followed them to the bush where her son was buried and the mode of burial of the boy.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, CP Kenneth Ebrimson, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and prosecution of suspects.
