Herbalist Arrested For Using Seven-Year-Old Stepson For Ritual

A herbalist, Lajuwon Ogunleye, his wife Adetutu Apalaya and one Fatai Sefiu were arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command on 22nd April, 2020 for conspiracy and murder of a seven year old boy Pelumi Apalaya for ritual purpose.

According to a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, “the suspects were arrested following an information received by the police at Abigi Divisional Headquarters that the seven-year- old boy who didn't show any sign of sickness suddenly slumped and died and this aroused the suspicion of people around that the boy might have been used for ritual.

  Upon their suspicion, the people around started monitoring the herbalist who incidentally happened to be the step father of the deceased boy and his wife who is the mother of the boy”.

Oyeyemi stated further that  “unknown to them, they were monitored to the bush where they took the victim’s body for burial in company of the third suspect who is a friend to the herbalist and the boy was buried in an upright position after removing some parts from his corpse. This confirmed the suspicion of the people and they quickly informed the police”.

The DPO, Abigi Division, SP Tarkighir Joseph led his men to the bush in Iwopin area of Ijebu Waterside where the suspects were rounded up. They led policemen to where the victim was buried and it was discovered that the deceased was buried in a standing position.

“On interrogation, the second suspect Fatai Sefiu told the detectives that the boy was actually used for ritual by the stepfather in connivance with the deceased boy's mother. He stated further that the couple had reached a conclusion before he was coopted into the business. The mother of the victim Adetutu Apalaya who first denied having knowledge of her husband’s plan to use her son for ritual purposes was dumbfounded when asked whether or not she followed them to the bush where her son was buried and the mode of burial of the boy”, Oyeyemi stated.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Kenneth Ebrimson has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution.