The Niger State Police Command has arrested five men over an alleged attempt to perform a money-making ritual involving the use of children as human sacrifices in Minna, the state capital.
The suspects were reportedly arrested before the proposed ritual could be completed after police operatives received intelligence about suspicious activities at an isolated property in the Garima area of Bosso Local Government Area.
The incident, which occurred on October 27, involved four men who allegedly approached a traditional medicine practitioner with a request to help them perform a ritual they believed would bring them wealth. The fifth suspect is said to be the native doctor they reportedly contacted.
According to details of the incident, officers attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Niger State Police Command carried out the operation at approximately 8:30 p.m. following a tip-off about suspected ritual activities at the compound.
The operation led to the arrest of five individuals identified as Mohammed Idris Dogara, 47, from Nasarawa State; Aliyu Sule, 25; Abubakar Abdullahi, 40; Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43, all from Bosso; and Shehu Abubakar, 40, a traditional medicine practitioner from Maikunkele.
Preliminary information surrounding the case suggested that the four men had allegedly sought the assistance of the native doctor after coming across a human skeleton reportedly discovered during mining operations.
The men were said to have believed that the remains could be used for a spiritual exercise capable of providing them with financial benefits.
However, their request reportedly did not receive the response they expected. The traditional medicine practitioner allegedly told them that he did not perform rituals of the nature they were proposing and declined to participate in the arrangement.
Rather than discontinue their plans, the four men allegedly continued to persuade him to reconsider his position.
In a particularly disturbing development, the suspects reportedly offered their own children as sacrifices, allegedly promising to make them available in exchange for different amounts of money.
The allegation has added a troubling dimension to the investigation, particularly because the proposed arrangement reportedly involved children who would ordinarily depend on their parents and guardians for protection.
Despite his initial refusal, the native doctor was allegedly drawn into further discussions about the proposed exercise. Reports indicated that arrangements were subsequently made for the participants to gather at a designated location to carry out the ritual.
As part of the preparations, Abubakar reportedly instructed each of the four men to purchase a chicken and bring it to the compound where the ceremony was expected to take place.
The instruction was allegedly followed, with the participants arriving at the location with the birds as preparations for the exercise continued.
However, their plans were disrupted when police operatives arrived at the compound after receiving information about what was happening there.
The officers reportedly met the suspects during the preparations, preventing the alleged ritual from reaching its intended conclusion.
At the scene, Aliyu Sule was allegedly found holding a knife covered in blood while preparing to slaughter his chicken. Three other chickens had reportedly already been killed before the security operatives arrived.
The discovery of the slaughtered birds and other materials at the property reportedly strengthened the suspicion that the gathering was connected to the alleged ritual arrangement.
During the operation, the police recovered several items believed to be relevant to the investigation.
The exhibits reportedly included pieces of red and white clothing bearing blood stains, four calabashes, two live chickens and three slaughtered chickens.
A blood-stained knife and a large mat were also recovered from the compound.
The items have been taken into police custody as investigators work to establish their connection to the alleged activities and determine the specific roles played by each of the five suspects.
The police reportedly said the arrested men had made confessional statements during preliminary questioning. However, the allegations against them will still need to be established through the appropriate investigative and judicial processes.
The command indicated that the suspects would remain in custody while further investigations were conducted.
They are expected to face charges relating to criminal conspiracy, possession of a criminal charm, ill-treatment of domestic animals and membership of an unlawful society.
Investigators are also expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the reported discovery of the human skeleton during mining activities, including how the remains came into the possession or knowledge of the suspects.
Another important aspect of the investigation concerns the allegation that the four men offered their children as sacrifices. Establishing whether the children were actually brought into the arrangement, identified for the alleged ritual or exposed to any immediate danger will be significant in determining the full extent of the case.
The police intervention appears to have prevented the reported gathering from progressing further, although the authorities have yet to provide additional details about whether other individuals may have been connected to the alleged plan.
The development also highlights the importance of intelligence gathering and timely intervention in addressing suspicious activities that could potentially threaten public safety.
For now, the five suspects remain at the centre of the investigation as the Niger State Police Command works towards completing its inquiries and taking the appropriate legal steps.
The allegations remain subject to judicial determination, and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
About The Author
