Africa-Press – Nigeria. Five suspected ritualists have been arrested over alleged possession of a human skull in a hotel located in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State by operatives of the State Police Command.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, the State spokesman in a statement confirmed the arrest of the suspects.
The suspects, according to him, are identified as Ahmadu Jiya, 31, of Gbafu via Enagi; Mohammed Ndache, 70, of Nagya in Edati LGA; Abubakar Mohammed, 21, of Duma via Lavun; Mallam Ali Mohammed, 20, of Tsyaduka via Lemu in Gbako LGA; and Mohammed Adamu, 25, of Edati LGA.
Following police investigations, the case began when the first suspect, Ahmadu Jiya, allegedly exhumed the skull of his late maternal grandmother who died at the age of over 90 in a desperate attempt to settle debts exceeding N2 million.
Jiya allegedly confessed during investigation that he was instructed by Mohammed Ndache, a self-proclaimed herbalist, in exchange for financial assistance to procure a human head dead or alive.
Jiya said that he was initially accompanied by his friend, Mohammed Adamu, to deliver the skull, but Adamu reportedly backed out, explaining that he later returned with Abubakar Mohammed, and together they sold the skull to him for N100,000, with N40,000 paid upfront as a deposit.
According to the statement, “the trio was then introduced to another herbalist, Mallam Ali Mohammed, who promised to perform a ritual that would double their money.
“However, a dispute arose when the suspects demanded a refund from Mallam Ali, who directed them to meet him at a hotel in Bida. Acting on a tip-off, police operatives swooped in and arrested all five suspects at the hotel.”
Abiodun explained that the suspects are currently undergoing investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna, assuring that they will be prosecuted at the conclusion of the investigation for their alleged involvement in ritual and criminal activities.
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