ABEOKUTA, Nigeria – Two suspected ritualists have been nabbed in Nigeria’s Ogun, police in the southwestern state said on Tuesday.
Oladeyo Idowu and Monday Ogunniyi were arrested at the Oja-Odan area of the state for allegedly specialising in the use of human parts for rituals, the Ogun State Police Command said through its spokeswoman Omolola Odutola.
Idowu was said to have reported to the police the case of abduction of one Regina Oladeyo against Ogunniyi, after which police operatives investigated and found that the kidnapped victim was with Ogunniyi.
However, during the investigation, Ogunniyi reportedly confessed to the abduction crime but also added that he and the complainant — Idowu, were in the business of using human remains for rituals.
Odutola said in a statement: “On December 16, 2024, at about 1630 hrs, a man named Oladeyo Idowu from School 4 Area, Oja Odan, came to the police station to report a case of abduction involving Monday Ogunniyi, who resides in the Okegbala area of Oja Odan.
“The individual who was abducted, Regina Oladeyo, was located in the suspect’s home. During questioning, Monday Ogunniyi confessed to the abduction but also claimed that he and the complainant were involved in rituals using human remains.
“A team of detectives visited the site where they discovered a dried human skeleton with female clothing draped over the bones near a river in the Afige area of Oja Odan.”
The police noted that “Ogunniyi provided a confession implicating Oladeyo Idowu regarding the storage and dismemberment of the corpse, along with the taking of photographs and the recovery of some exhibits.”
The police spokeswoman said the case would be forwarded to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Nigeria is presently grappling with a sinister phenomenon that has already claimed countless lives and left families devastated.
Ritual killing, driven by the belief that human body parts can be used for sudden wealth and power to manipulate and control, has become a scary reality in the country. This heinous practice, which is usually glossed over as a folktale until one falls victim, is an affront to human dignity and a blight on our collective conscience.
Some individuals believe that human organs and body parts possess spiritual powers that can bring lasting wealth, success, and protection. This belief is perpetuated by false narratives and superstitions by dishonest individuals.
Recent data suggests that the problem is escalating.
Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with skyrocketing inflation, a national currency in free-fall and millions of people struggling to survive.
Poverty, unemployment, and a lack of education create an environment where desperate individuals are preyed upon by unscrupulous ritualists.
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