The Niger State Police Command has arrested four men who allegedly offered their biological children as sacrifice for money rituals in Minna.
The suspects were arrested alongside a native doctor during an operation by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit at an isolated compound in the Garima area of Bosso, Minna.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a crime bulletin issued on Thursday.
Those arrested are Mohammed Idris Dogara, 57, of Nasarawa State residing in Bosso; Aliyu Sule, 25, of Bosso; Abubakar Abdullahi, 40, of New-Garima area, Bosso; Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43, of Bosso; and Shehu Abubakar, 40, of Maikunkele, a native doctor.
According to the statement, the operatives were on routine patrol around the Bosso area at about 8:30pm on October 27 when they received reliable information about ongoing ritual activities, where some unknown persons were seen entering an isolated compound in the Garima area with suspicious items.
The operatives swung into action and arrested the suspects at the scene.
The police said the suspects were arrested for criminal conspiracy, possession of criminal charms, ill-treatment of domestic animals and unlawful society.
Items recovered at the scene include pieces of blood-stained red and white clothing, four calabashes, two live chickens, three slaughtered chickens, a blood-stained knife and a large mat on which the items were placed.
“During interrogation, it was revealed that Ibrahim, Abubakar, Aliyu and Mohammed approached Shehu, the native doctor, to perform money rituals for them using a skeleton discovered during mining activities, which he refused, stating that he does not offer such services.
“The four suspects insisted, allegedly offering their biological children as sacrifice for the rituals for varying sums of money. After much pressure, the native doctor directed each of them to purchase a chicken and assemble at a given location where the ritual would be carried out, and it was during the act that the suspects were arrested with the items.
“One of the suspects, Aliyu Sule, was found at the scene holding the blood-stained knife about to slaughter his chicken, while three others had already slaughtered theirs.
“The suspects confessed to the crime and are undergoing further investigation, after which they will be charged to court for prosecution,” the police spokesman said.
