Nigeria: outrage in Ogun State after ritual killing of Togolese girl

Ritual murders are not uncommon in Nigeria but it is rare that the victim is a non-Nigerian. Reportedly, the Togolese girl – allegedly a seven-year old girl but the first article below mentions her age as ten years old – was murdered by a ritual killer. in Ota, Ogun State.

The case is now under investigation.

Warning: the following articles contain graphic details (webmaster FVDK).

Suspected ritualist kills Togolese girl in Ogun State

Published: November 24, 2022
By: Adekunle Dada – Within Nigeria

Suspected ritualists have reportedly killed a 10-year-old Togolese girl in Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State.

The tragic incident happened around 7 am on Thursday at Kilani Street, Iyana Iyesi area of Ota, Ogun State.

A friend of the victim’s mother who was a neighbour was said to had sent the girl to her home to get charcoal. But, on getting to the house, the girl sighted some hoodlums who had broken into the house, carting away some property.

It was further gathered that the attempt by the girl to run away having seen and identified them failed as they reportedly held her and killed her with a pestle.

According to PUNCH, a neighbour who pleaded anonymity said the killers were suspected ritualists who had hidden somewhere in the building, attacked her and smashed her head with a pestle.

The source said the girl’s cry for help attracted the neighbour’s attention, but she was dead before anybody could arrive at the scene.

A resident of the area, Bolanle Sunmonu, said that the neighbours searched for the suspects, but they had left and could not be found.

It was gathered that police were alerted but the suspects had long escaped before they could get to the scene to assess the situation.

Another resident said “the police have taken away the body of the victim. I know the girl very well, we used to call her Mama. The suspect killed her in cold blood. At first, we thought it was a thief, but further findings revealed that the guy is a ritualist.

“When we searched further, we discovered that the man had charms and a goat hidden in an empty building close to his victim’s house. When we got there, we saw a goat. The goat attacked one of us, but it was later killed. This is a sad occurrence,” another source stated.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident said the killers were armed robbers and not ritualists.

Oyeyemi said, “It is true. The mother is a Togolese and has a female friend who is a Ghanaian. It was the Ghanaian woman that sent the girl to her house to get her charcoal.

“Getting to the house, she met the robbers who identified her and did not want her to expose them. They killed her.

“Our men have combed all the areas but had not got them. The command will ensure they are arrested.”

Source: Suspected ritualists kill 10-year-old Togolese girl in Ogun

See also:
Outrage as ritual killer murders girl in Ota Ogun State
Published: November 25, 2022
By: Naija Gists

and:
Ritual killing of Togolese girl shocks Nigerians
Published: November 26, 2022
By: Staff Reporter – Nigeria Abroad