Nigeria: ritual killings on the increase

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

It’s no surprise to me to read that ritual killings in Nigeria – usually referred to as ‘money rituals’ – are rampant and on the increase. I frequently report on these crimes in Africa’s most populated country. Esther Onyegbula, the author of the article below expresses her disgust while presenting a frightening number of ritualistic murder cases, some of which have been reported earlier on this site.

Her article makes it clear that ritual murders are a plague in Nigeria, in virtually every corner of the country, but notably in the western and eastern states. Moreover, after reading her story, one is convinced that even though in some cases the authorities uphold the rule of law, in many cases the police fail to apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous acts.

Isn’t it time to wage a full-scale war against the criminals who slaughter innocent citizens in order to gain wealth or prestige, and against ignorance, the root cause of all superstition?
(webmaster FVDK)

Weird world of money ritualists

Published: February 3, 2020
By: Vanguard Nigeria – Esther Onjegbula

In the last two years, ritual killings have been on the increase.

Although ritual crimes cut across almost all regions in the country, they are more pronounced in western and eastern states of Nigeria.

Every week, there are reports of one ritual killing or the other.

Some suspects are arrested and prosecuted while others arrested are not prosecuted as investigations are marred by lack of evidence or police compromise.

Last month, newspapers were awash with reports of how Favour Daley-Oladele, a final year student of Lagos State University, LASU, who went missing on December 8, 2019, was killed allegedly by her boyfriend, Adeeko Owolabi, who was said to have connived with a self-acclaimed pastor, for ritual purpose in Osun State.

Owolabi and his mother allegedly engaged ‘Pastor’ Segun Philips to end Favour’s life in a gruesome manner. The boyfriend allegedly tricked the victim from Lagos to Ikoyi-Ile, Osun State with the promise that he wanted her to meet his parents to approve their relationship.

But unknown to Favour, she was on her last journey on earth as she was led to the church where her head was smashed with a pestle allegedly by Owolabi and butchered by the ‘pastor’, who later removed her vital parts for money ritual.

Narrating how he killed the victim, Owolabi said, “I lured the deceased to Ikoyi-Ile and lodged her in a hotel before killing her. After I lodged her in a guest house, I took her to a house which I claimed to be my uncle’s house, but knowing that the place was a den of ritualists. “I smashed a pestle on her head and she collapsed. The prophet thereafter used a knife and cutlass to dismember her body which was divided into breasts, head and legs and other vital parts. “We buried the remaining parts of her body beside Prophet Philip’s Church called ‘Solution Salvation Chapel’, while some vital parts were given to my mother to eat for spiritual cleansing”.

Owolabi isn’t the first young man who has been arrested for killing his lover in recent past. In 2018, Seidu Adeyemi killed and buried his girlfriend, Khadijat Oluboyo, the daughter of a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lasisi Oluboyo. Adeyemi murdered Khadijat, a student of Adekunle Ajasin University, after inviting her to his house in July 2018. After the killing, Adeyemi buried the deceased in his room for five days before he was exposed by his father who reported to the police.

At Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo State in November 2018, a teenager, Akpobome Samuel, allegedly strangled his mother to death and had sex with her corpse for ritual.

According to Samuel, who was paraded by the police, “I acted on the instructions of a witch doctor who I contracted for money ritual. “The voodoo doctor told me that after killing my mother, I should sleep with her corpse in order to get rich. “That is why I complied with his instruction and killed her. “I was caught by my grandmother who came to knock on the door having waited patiently for my mother to accompany her to church. She caught me having sex with my mother. “The native doctor told me to kill my mother and sleep with her corpse, but he did not tell me the number of days to sleep with her. “He told me to keep her dead body inside the room for two days but I was caught when I could no longer keep it.

“I did not know that my grandmother was sitting outside. She opened the door and sighted me on the corpse inside the room and raised the alarm that drew the attention of neighbours. “My mother did not offend me. I killed her because of money”.

Apart from people using their loved ones for ritual, there are instances where innocent persons have been used for ritual purposes by people they didn’t know.

Recently, there was an allegation by some residents of Kwara State that some policemen in Adewole Police Division, Ilorin had been selling suspects detained at the station to ritual killers for N 80, 000 per person. Although the state Commissioner of Police, Lawan Ado, said the allegation was false, the state Police Command redeployed policemen at the station. Ado added that no one had come forward with information to indict any police officer at the station for selling suspects to ritual killers. “But we have been redeploying the policemen there. More than half of them have now been transferred and, soon, the other half will be redeployed so that even if there is anybody who is involved – which no information has established – we will at least remove him from the area.”

But a frightening dimension was recorded in suspected cases of ritual killing in Ilorin last year when commercial motorcycle operators allegedly became targets of alleged ritualists. Motorcyclists were said to have been lured into the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of the town by ritualists posing as passengers only to be mowed down by members of the group.

Apart from the commercial motorcyclists, no fewer than six women were killed by suspected ritualists in the area and their breasts removed.

In July 2019, a young man was caught at Corporation Estate, Mile 12, Lagos after he allegedly murdered a commercial sex worker and removed her private part.

Back to Ondo State, the killing of an 80-year-old woman, Mrs. Kojusola Mogaji, in Arigidi-Akoko, created panic in the community. It incident got so scary so much so that Oba Yisa Olanipekun and the entire community embarked on interdenominational prayers and fasting, traditional rites while a vigilante group was raised to unravel ritual killings in the area.

Even the dead are not spared

It is not only the living that are gruesomely murdered and body parts harvested for ritual; the dead are also not allowed to rest in their graves as suspected ritual killers and skull miners exhume remains of dead people which are prepared for ritual.

Three young men, who were arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for being in possession of fresh human parts, confessed that their unbridled desires to get rich quick prompted them to get the body parts for money ritual.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude, said the suspects were arrested after a tip-off by a member of the public. Odude added that the suspects confessed to have removed the body parts from corpses at a Muslim cemetery in Isale General Area of Ogbomoso.

One of the suspects claimed this was his first attempt at using human parts for money ritual.

Another said: “We went to Isale General at Ogbomoso to exhume the bodies at about 8p.m. On our way back, two inquisitive boys, who accosted us on the road, demanded to know where the offensive odour was from. “We tried to deceive them, but they were insistent. So we had to run. They caught one of us before the police arrested us at our homes. “We wanted to use the parts for money ritual. If we had succeeded in taking the corpses to our place, we would have dried and burnt them. “After burning the parts, we will grind the same to powdery substance and mix some of it with soap to take our bath in the morning and to take pap at night. “After we would have done this, some weird creatures, who we generally call demons, will bring money to us — usually at night.”

In another case reported in November 2019, a cemetery vault builder, Kazim Olarewaju, who worked at Okesuna Cemetery, Adeniji Adele area of Lagos island, revealed that he sold two human skulls for N12, 000. Olarewaju, who was arrested by policemen attached to Adeniji Adele Division, alongside two other suspects, Muritala Salami and Amidu Kazeem, explained that this was the second time he was trading in human parts.

Narrating how he got involved in the act, Olarenwaju said, “I work at Okesuna Cemetery. In September, Mr Muritala Salami and his relatives came to the cemetery to bury a relative. “After the burial, he said I should help him to get a biscuit. I told him I didn’t know what he was talking about. He said it was a human skull. “I told him immediately I couldn’t. He collected my telephone number and left but continued to call me till I bulged. “Initially, I asked him to come to the cemetery and take it himself. When he came, I helped him to take the bag outside the cemetery gate so that security guards won’t suspect anything. “The first time he paid me 12,000 for two skulls. “Last week he called me again and I told him to steer clear but he kept threatening me till I agreed to help him get two more human skulls. “It was while I was taking delivery of his order that I was arrested by the police.” Explaining further, Kasim said, “I started working at the cemetery two years ago and I have never been involved in a thing like this before I met Muritala”.

Explaining what he was doing with human skulls, Salami, who said he was a dealer in herbal preparation, said he used them to make charms to enable him get more clients. “I grind the dried human skulls, mix it with pepper and take it with local gin first thing in the morning. Before I began to do this, I was making about N30, 000 daily but afterwards I began to make between N80,000 and N100,000”

Confirming the arrest, spokesperson for Lagos State Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, said the investigation was ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court.

From the foregoing, it would appear that native doctors, fake pastors, Muslim clerics and cemetery workers usually work with suspects in the business of ritual killing.

Worried by the spate of ritual killings and bodies’ exhumation from graveyards, then-Assistant Inspector General of Police in Charge of Zone 2, AIG Lawal Shehu, declared war on native doctors and human parts’ dealers in Lagos and Ogun states. Shehu said each time suspects were apprehended, they usually claimed they were herbalists, adding that some native doctors were aiding and abating the practice. He made the declaration after four suspects, identified as Lukmon Bayewunmi, Kabir Badmus, Victor Nnacheta and Nurudeen Sogaolu, were arrested with dried human jaw and scalp.

Compromise

Meanwhile, the police have been accused of compromise on some cases of ritual killing.

For instance during the tenure of CP Imohimi Edgal as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, precisely in August 2018, two suspected ritualists, Folake Falade and Emmanuel Gbenga were arrested under the Cele Nicer Bridge, Ijanikin, by the police.

Folake, who was almost lynched by an irate mob, said she had been there (Cele Nicer Bridge) for nine years and that her business was to sell human parts to ready buyers. She said her customers usually parked on the bridge at night with their vehicles bonnets opened, pretending that their vehicles had one fault or the other, but unknown to people that they were waiting to buy human parts. According to her, her boys would be beneath the vehicles pretending to be carrying out repairs to douse any suspicion and, in the process, hand over nylon bags containing human parts to the clients.

A resident, Lawrence Oke, claimed that Folake revealed that “whenever she failed to find preys to meet the demands of clients, she would dress seductively and head to a nearby hotel at night”. Oke went on, “Any man that picked her for the night would become prey as he would end up in her den where his body parts would be harvested and sold off to waiting clients.”

The resident further narrated that Folake confessed that she had boys that worked for her.

He added, “She said that once her hands touched someone, that person would lose his senses and follow her sheepishly.”

However, despite what many believed was compelling evidence against the suspect and initial police stand, nothing was heard about the case after the arrest.

Meanwhile, the belief that invoking spirits or demons can bring cash after performing some rituals obviously is what is fuelling ritual killings in parts of the country.

Sunday Vanguard spoke to some of those who should know in this special report.

Source: Weird world of money ritualists

Related articles:

Breaking: Catholic Church march against rituals, internet fraud by yahoo-boys
Published: November 26, 2019
By: Vanguard Nigeria – Jimitota Onoyume

BREAKING: Oluwo to lead protest against ritual killings, corruption
Published: August 20, 2019
By: Vanguard Nigeria

Opinion: Insecurity in Ondo state, Nigeria

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

In this features article, Legit.ng’s regional reporter in Akure, Oluwadamilare Moriyeke, writes on how tackling insecurity in Ondo state is becoming more difficult for the security agencies.

I have earlier reported on the growing insecurity situation in Ondo state, notably the alarming increase in number of ritualistic killings. See my posts dated April 19, 23, 28, 29 and May 2 of the current year.
The cases mentioned below are no new cases, but the purpose of this post is to demonstrate the growing uneasiness (read: fear) of the population of Ondo state. One of the unalienable human rights is the right to be without fear. It is an obligation of the state to protect its citizens and to guarantee a peaceful life. To realize this, the rule of law is indispensable.
(webmaster FVDK)

Opinion: Insecurity in Ondo State

Published: May 15, 2019
By: Wale Akinola – NAIJ.com

(….)
But now, it is more pronounced in gruesome murder, arson and abduction for ritual purposes as the state records nothing less than five incidents within the past five weeks.

In Ondo city, the headquarters of Ondo west local government, a 62-year old woman with hunchback, Ibironke Abodunde, was reportedly abducted by some gunmen and all efforts to find her were to no avail. There were rumours that her son sold the mother to ritualists for N7 million but there arose a heated argument between the ritualists and the said son, who was asked to return the money after the purpose for her hunchback failed. According to report, they threatened to kill him if he did not refund their money and he too insisted that they should return his mother, who was kidnapped while selling fish, before they could get their money. However, the first child of the woman out of two, Monsurat, refuted the report and revealed that their mother did not have any son, adding that the only male child by the woman died at infancy some months after birth. Nonetheless, a source within the family pointed out that the son might be mistaken for one of her tenant, who is a herbalist and had disappeared since the incident happened.

Without leaving the vulnerable group, a septuagenarian mother of five, Medinat Ala, was killed at her residence by suspected ritualists, who removed her womb, vag.ina and brea.sts at Okeagbe area of Ikare, the headquarters of Akoko north east council. The landlady, Ala, was attacked in the wee hours of the day and clubbed to death with pestle before they removed those vital organs from her body. It was learnt that a neighbour who wanted to rescue her was attacked too and later died in the hospital. According to sources, one of the tenants, Moses Olaniyi, is now in the police net as prime suspect to the crime, while the youths and community leaders are on the watch to stop a re-occurrence as there were two cases of such incidents in recent past.

Similarly, a 80-year old Mrs. Kajosla Mogaji, was also killed under same gruesome circumstance as her head was battered and found dead in a pool of blood the next morning.
(….)

Source: Opinion: Insecurity in Ondo and concept of ‘Abiku’ by Oluwadamilare Moriyeke

Nigeria – ritual killings: Ondo community on marathon prayers, fasting

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

Published: May 7, 2019
By: Damisi Ojo, Akure

Disturbed by two recent incidents of ritual killings which occurred simultaneously in Arigidi, Akoko Northeast local government area of Ondo state, the Zaki Arigidi,-in-council has pronounced the commencement of interdenominational prayer session and fasting to curtail the menace.

Besides, the community leaders employed the service of traditionalists and vigilante group for action.

Two women were killed in the community within one week interval, their breasts were clinically removed, a development that was strange to Arigidi Akoko community regarded as very peaceful.

Oba Yisa Olanipekun met with women who are family members of victims of the gruesome killing.

The monarch disclosed that an indigene of Arigidi Akoko from Ogo quarters, Tunde Ajileye alias Efo, 30 year old had been napped when his father surrendered him to the traditional ruler who handed him to the police.

The police men took him to Akure to join two other suspects now at the state Criminal Investigation Department, Akure.

A woman leader, Mrs. Ayoka Oshodi on behalf other women blamed youths looking for blood money.

She appealed to parents to monitor their children living above their income.

The chairman, Akoko Northwest local government, Elder Samson Akande said his administration would give priority to security and generation of revenue.

He said he was not happy with the recent killings of two innocent women at Arigidi Akoko.

Akande called on his management team to liaise with traditional rulers to make sure life and property are safe in the local government.

He hailed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his leadership style which made infrastructures possible in every nook and cranny of the state.

Source: Ritual killings: Ondo community on marathon prayers, fasting

Related:

Ondo community laments ritual killings

Published: May 7, 2019
By: Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Community leaders have decried incessant ritual killings in Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State, saying the people have resorted to divine intervention.

It was gathered that the Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun and the Oba-in-Council and the entire community have embarked on interdenominational prayers, traditional efforts coupled with local vigilante efforts to unravel the scourge of ritual killings.

This, it was further gathered was strange to Arigidi Akoko which was one of the very peaceful communities in the area.

It would be recalled two women were allegedly killed for ritual killings at Arigidi Akoko with their two breasts removed clinically.

The Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun at a meeting with the women who were the recent victims of the gruesome killing, disclosed that a son of Arigidi Akoko from Ogo Quarters, Mr. Tunde Ajileye alias Efo, 30-year-old had been arrested.

He said his father handed him over to the traditional ruler who handed him over to the police.

While noting that he had been taken to police headquarters Akure for further interrogation, he added that three suspects were now at state Criminal Investigation Department CID, Akure for their alleged roles in ritual killings at Arigidi.

A woman leader, Mrs. Ayoka Oshodi on behalf of women, blamed youths looking for hot money, appealing to parents to be vigilant on their children living above their income.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Akoko North West Local Government Area, Elder Samson Akande said his administration would give priority to security and generation of revenue.

He said he was not happy with the recent killing of two women at Arigidi Akoko, and called on his management team to liaise with traditional rulers to make sure lives and property were safe in the area.

He commended Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for his leadership style which made infrastructure possible in the nook and crannies of Ondo State

Source: Ondo Community Laments Ritual Killing s

Nigeria: residents nab two suspected ritual killers in Ondo

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

Published: May 1, 2019
By: Channels Television

Two suspected ritualists who allegedly have been killing women in the Akoko area of Ondo state, removing their breasts and other sensitive organs were on Tuesday caught by vigilant residents in Arigidi-Akoko, in Akoko North West Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were said to have been apprehended following an attempt to kill another woman in the town.

An eyewitness who preferred to speak under anonymity disclosed to Channels Television that “Ritual killings have become very frequent in Arigidi and some other parts of Akoko land. Five women have been killed gruesomely, with their breasts and other private parts removed”.

“Nemesis caught up with two men early this morning at Arigidi when a woman raised alarm that a man came to her room to kill her and ran away when she raised alarm”.

“Immediately the town organised a search team and caught the two men in a bush at the back of Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi-Akoko. They were taken to the palace of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Yisa Olanipekun”.

“The Suspects were later handed over to security agents in the area to prevent jungle justice on them,” the eyewitness said.

It would be recalled that a 50-year-old woman, simply called ” Iya Dunsin” and another 80-year-old grandmother, Kojusola Mogaji were brutally killed and their breasts clinically removed within an interval of two weeks in Arigidi Akoko.

Similar incidents had also been recorded in Ikare Akoko and Okeagbe-Akoko last year.

The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, SP Femi Joseph confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

He, however, said the case is being investigated saying the two men are suspects.

He noted that the Commissioner of Police in the State, Undie Adie has set up a security team that is carrying out 24-hour surveillance in the whole Akoko Area.

He added that the traditional rulers as well as youths, and other Stakeholders in the communities are also working with police to combat the spate of killings and other criminal acts in Akoko land and the entire state.

Source: Residents nab two suspected ritual killers in Ondo community

Nigeria: fear grips Ondo residents over ritual killings

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

This article is related to previous postings (see postings dated April 19, April 23 and April 28, 2019).

Warning: graphic photo shown at the bottom of this page (webmaster FVDK)

Published: April 29, 2019
By: Adebayo Waheed Ibadan

Following the gruesome murder of an 80-year-old woman, Mrs Kojusola Mogaji, by suspected ritualists, fear, anxiety and panic, have gripped the people and residents of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State.

The deceased, a resident of Imo Quarters, Arigidi Akoko, Northwest local government area of the state, was killed by yet to be identified ritualists.

This recent killing on Thursday night is the sixth to be recorded in recent times and in all cases, the breasts of the victims were removed clinically. (italics by the webmaster FVDK)

Two of the incidences occurred opposite Ecobank Ikare, and another at Agbaluku Arigidi.

It was observed that since the recent killing in the area, the people have become anxious and fearful especially women, who are afraid of even going for regular Church and Mosque programmes in the early hours of the morning.

Apart from that, it was also observed that the people were no longer willing to open their doors to just anybody for fear of being greeted by attackers.

The brother of the latest victim, Mr Vincent Sunday, has, since his sister’s death, urged traditional rulers and community leaders in the area to speak up about the unpleasant situation even as he called for a security summit in Akokoland.

He urged security agents to beam their searchlight on Akokoland since residents no longer felt safe.

The daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Kehinde Adewumi, who is a local government official, appealed to the police to investigate and bring to book, those responsible for her mother’s sudden death.

Source: Fear Grips Ondo Residents Over Ritual Killings

Nigeria: suspected ritualists kill 80-year-old woman in Ondo State

Posted on April 28, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

Published: April 27, 2019
By: Channels Television

An 80-year-old woman has been killed with her two breasts removed by suspected ritual killers in Arigidi-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The incident occurred barely two weeks after a similar killing in the town involving a 50-year-old woman whose breasts were also removed by suspected ritualists.

The octogenarian, Kajusola Mogaji, was found by her neighbours in a pool of blood in her room.

The assailants were said to have hit her on the head with an object in the night in her home at Imo quarters in Arigidi-Akoko.

Unfortunately, the other occupants of the house were not around when the incident reportedly happened.

The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, Mr Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Friday.

He said the police would not relent in fighting crime in the state, adding that perpetrators of killings in Ondo would be arrested and prosecuted.

One of the children of the deceased, Mrs Kehinde Adewumi, also confirmed the incident.

She described the killing as wicked and appealed to the police authorities in the state to ensure the perpetrators of the evil act were apprehended and brought to book.

The remains of the 80-year-old victim have since been deposited at the morgue in the State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko.

Source: Suspected ritualists kill 80-year-old woman in Ondo

Nigeria: son sells hunchback mum to ritual killers in Ondo State

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

Published: April 22, 2019
By: Hakim Gbadamosi – Nigerian Tribune

Detectives from the Ondo State Police Command are trying to unravel the mystery behind the abduction and killing of a 60- year- old hunchback, Mrs Rukayat Abodunde, by men suspected to be ritual killers.

Mrs Abodunde was abducted by armed men who invaded her home at Ayetoro Street, Ondo town, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.

Apart from the suspected ritual killers, the police are also looking for the son of the abducted woman who was said to have conspired with the ritual killers and sold her mother to them for rituals.

Family source said the deceased who sold fish beside her house was abducted by two gunmen who pretended to have come to buy fish from her around 10 :00 p.m. in the night.

He said the two men started shooting into the air to scare away people and dragged Abodunde into a waiting vehicle

The source explained that the incident was reported at the police station in Ondo town, while men from the command visited the house to investigate the incident.

However, the gunmen reappeared few days after the abduction of the woman, demanding for the refund of N7 million from his son.

The kidnappers were said to have discovered that the hump was not a natural one but was a result of domestic accident, and called for the refund of the N7 million from the son of the deceased.

The source said the ritual killers discovered that the hump was not useful to them after killing the woman, threatened to kill the young man if he failed to refund the money.

However, the boy insisted that the ritual killers must also return his mother alive before the money could be refunded, and has run away from the house since then.

According to the source, the young man had used part of the money to buy clothes for the deceased before her abduction, part of the money to renovate and repaint the house before the incident.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, who confirmed the abduction of the woman, said two suspected kidnappers invaded the home of the victim and whisked her away.

He said: “The incident was reported at the police station by one Omotola Oseyemi, while the police swung into action to ensure the release of the abducted woman.

“We interrogated the people in the area, but it was unfortunate that members of the family are not showing enough interest in the disappearance of the woman.

“Some family members visited the station to notify the police that they were no longer interested in case but will like to handle it in a traditional way”.

Joseph, however, said the police are still investigating the incident with a promise to unravel those behind the crime.

Source: Son Sells Hunchback Mum To Ritual Killers For N7m In Ondo

Nigeria: suspected ritualists kill 50-year-old woman in Ondo State

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

Published: April 11, 2019
By: Channels TV

The town of Arigidi Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State has been thrown into mourning after suspected ritualists killed a 50-year-old woman simply called “Iya Dunsi”.

Channels Television gathered on Thursday that the victim was a popular palm oil trader in the community.

Her remains were found about 100 metres from her house.

Confirming the incident, the Police Area Commander in Ikare-Akoko Area Command, Razak Rauf, said the criminals would not have a place under his command.

The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, SP Femi Joseph, also confirmed the killing to Channels Television.

He disclosed that the woman was coming from the Northern part of the country where she had gone to buy some goods.

Joseph added that she had arrived at the community in the early hours of Wednesday morning before she was killed by the criminals.

He, however, noted that the police have commenced an investigation into the killing and to ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended and brought to justice.

In 2018, three cases of ritual killings were recorded in Ikare-Akoko.
(italics added by the webmaster FVDK)

Source: Suspected ritualists kill 50-year-old woman in Ondo

Nigeria: Coroner reveals gruesome details of former Ondo Governor’s daughter’s murder

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

In July 2018 I reported on this site on the ritual murder of the daughter of the former deputy governor of Ondo State, Khadijat Oluboyo. Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Olumuyiwa Pelemo, has now revealed graphic details of her gruesome death (webmaster FVDK).

Warning: the following reports contains shocking details!

Coroner reveals gruesome details of former Ondo Governor’s daughter’s murder

Published: January 17, 2019
By: Ella Egbo

Following the murder of the daughter of the former deputy governor of Ondo State, Khadijat Oluboyo, Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Olumuyiwa Pelemo, has revealed graphic details of her gruesome death.

Dr Pelemo made the disclosure yesterday, Wednesday, January 17, 2019, while testifying during the murder case before an Akure High Court.

According to the coroner, the hairs on the deceased’s head and pubic region were shaved, and her two upper front teeth removed.

The Police prosecution team which was led by Helen Falowo, reportedly invited the medical expert to present evidence before the court during the murder case.

Dr. Pelemo als said that the corpse, which was dug up and used for autopsy on July 9, 2018 had already been at the early stage of decomposition.

He said that it was observed “that there was an abnormal shaving of the hair on the deceased’s head and the pubic region while her two upper front teeth had been broken off, leaving only some fragments left.”

The coroner added that there had been fractures on her neck bones, shoulder as well as her sixth ribs on both sides.

A dislocation of her hip joints and another fracture on the upper part of her thighs was also discovered.

Dr Pelemo said that “the injuries could not have been self inflicted but given by another party, and inflicted with a significant pressure especially the upper thigh region which had a lot of muscles.

He added that “there were lacerations on her chest which damaged two major vessels known as the phemora artery and vein that circulate blood in the body.

“The combined effects of the injuries led to Khadijat’s death.”

Vanguard reports that the autopsy report was admitted in court as an exhibit after due process.

Also testifying in court, the defendants brother said that his family heard about the case when the suspect confessed to killing the missing girl and burying her in his room.

He also said that the suspect had pleaded with him to help dispose of the corpse but he had forced him to confess to their father who in turn, reported the case to the police.

The father of the defendant, Seidu Siyanbola’s testimony confirmed that of his son.

Seidu also added that he had known the deceased as his son’s girlfriend, stating that the couple had been courting for three years.

He disclosed that his son had told him that some men had killed Khadijat and buried her in his room, threatening to deal with him and his family if he reported the murder to the police.

Seidu said that was the reason the suspect had given him for hiding the murder even when the family of the deceased were searching for her after she had gone missing.

He also added that his son had not shown any emotion during the time the body was decomposing in his room.

The case was finally close by the prosecution and the defense is expected to open its case on January 21, 2019.

Recall that the deceased was reportedly killed and allegedly used for ritual by her boyfriend of eight years, Saidu-Shakiru Adeyemi.

According to previous reports, the suspect is reported to have buried the deceased in a grave and slept on it for several days prior to his arrest.

Source: Coroner reveals gruesome details of former Ondo Governor’s daughter’s murder

(Cont’d) More on Ondo ‘money ritual’ murder case

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij

MAN WHO KILLED HIS GIRLFRIEND BREAKS DOWN BEFORE BEING REMANDED IN PRISON

Khadijat Adenike Oluboyo (25) was killed in a bid for voodoo money.

Published: July 18, 2018
By Young

This is the moment the suspected Yahoo boy, Adeyemi Alao, who allegedly killed his girlfriend for money ritual – broke down in court before he was remanded in prison. The suspect was arraigned before Akure Magistrates’ Court in Ondo, state capital on Monday.

Adeyemi was accused of killing Khadijat, the daughter a former deputy governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo.

Khadijat, a 400-level student of the Department of Educational Management, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, was said to be Adeyemi’s girlfriend.

Adeyemi and two other accomplices, who were said to be at large, allegedly killed Khadijat in Adeyemi’s room.

After killing the ex-deputy governor’s daughter, Adeyemi allegedly buried the corpse in a shallow grave inside his room in the Aratusin area of Akure before he was arrested seven days later.

The accused was arraigned on Monday on two counts of conspiracy and murder.

During the court proceedings, the police prosecutor, Sergeant Mary Adebayo, made an application for the remand of the accused in custody pending legal advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions.

The defence counsel, Taiwo Gbadebo, did not object to the application of the prosecutor.

The magistrate, Mrs Victoria Bob-Manuel, ordered that Adeyemi be remanded in custody pending when the legal advice would come from the DPP.

She adjourned the case till August 23, 2018.

Alao Adeyemi is accused of killing Khadijat, the daughter a former deputy governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo.

The suspect was arraigned before Akure Magistrates’ Court in Ondo, state capital on Monday.

Adeyemi Alao

Source: Man Who Killed His Girlfriend Breaks Down Before Being Remanded In Prison
Information Nigeria, July 18, 2018

Ritual Killing In Africa

Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Superstition in Africa

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