Police arrest suspected ritualist over attempt to cut teenage’s throat

Suspected ritualist identified as Isiaka Adeniyi has been arrested by officers of Kwara state police command over his attempt to slaughter a teenager Akeem Nurudeen, while hawking pepper.

According to report the teenage pepper seller, Akeem was hawking pepper along Ifedapo Community, Oke-Foma area, Ilorin on Tuesday when he was lured into the room by the suspect on the pretext that he wanted to buy pepper.

The suspect was said to have suddenly wrapped the teenage pepper seller cloth on his face and wanted to slaughter him with knife when members of Vigilante in the community rescued the victim.

Spokesperson of Kwara State police command, DSP Toun Ejire Adeyemi confirmed the development in a statement issued to journalists in ilorin on Sunday.

The statement reads: “The Kwara State Police Command received a distress call of an attempted culpable homicide and the arrest of a suspected ritualist in the state.”

It added that, “According to information received from the police at C Division, on the 2nd of July 2024 at about 1800 hrs, a report was received from Onidoko Police Post indicating that at about 1730 hrs, an incident occurred in the Abab Oke-Foma area of Ilorin.

“It was reported that a 10-year-old boy, Akeem Nurudeen, resident of Abab area Abayawo, Ilorin, was hawking pepper when he was lured into a room by a suspect identified as Isiaka Adeniyi, aged 46, from Ifedapo Community, Oke-Foma area, Ilorin.”

The statement also said that, “The suspect allegedly lured the victim under the pretext of purchasing pepper, but instead covered the victim’s face with cloth and attempted to slaughter him with a knife.

“Thanks to the swift action of vigilant community members, the suspect was apprehended and brought to the station. Preliminary investigation is currently underway, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough and discreet investigation.”

It added that, “The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya psc (+) commends the proactive efforts of the community members in apprehending the suspect and ensuring that justice is served in this grievous matter.

“We urge the public to remain calm as we continue our investigation and assure that the police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Kwara State.” concluded the statement.