A 14-year-old boy identified as Malik Kareem, was reportedly beheaded in a suspected ritual killing in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Saturday.
The gruesome incident occurred in the Olorisaoko community, Akinyele Local Government Area, leaving the entire area in shock and confusion.
According to the PUNCH, Malik had recently completed his final West Africa Examination Council exam at Iyana Community Grammar School, Olode, Moniya, Ibadan.
On the day of the incident, Malik and three other boys allegedly contacted a Muslim cleric for a money ritual.
However, unknown to Malik, his friends had conspired with the cleric to use him for the ritual.
A family source recounted the horrifying discovery, “I was at home when one of my brothers rushed in to inform me of the tragic event. We hurried to the scene and found Malik’s lifeless body without a head in the cleric’s house. The cleric had already fled, and the victim’s head had been cremated.”
The source further revealed that the three other boys had strangled Malik, beheaded him, and cremated his head as part of the ritual.
“They planned to use his remains to prepare pap every day,” the source added.
In the aftermath of the incident, the cleric’s house was reportedly set on fire by unidentified youths in the area.
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the incident and launched an investigation.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, stated, “Investigations have commenced on the incident, and you will be updated accordingly.”
