The Kwara State Police Command said it has arrested a 46-year-old suspected ritualist as he attempted to slaughter a 10-year-old boy hawking pepper in Ilorin, the state capital.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, in a statement said the suspect, identified as Isiaka Adeniyi, was arrested on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the Oke-Foma area in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the suspect allegedly lured the young pepper hawker (names withheld) into a room under the pretext of patronising him.
He said the suspect reportedly covered the victim’s face with a cloth and attempted to slaughter him with a knife.
The state Police PRO said, “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 (names withheld) 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.”
Toun stated that the suspect was apprehended and brought to the station owing to the “swift action of vigilant community members,” adding that “preliminary investigation is currently underway, while the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough and discreet investigation”.
The state Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, hailed the proactive efforts of the community members in apprehending the suspect, ensuring that justice will be served in the matter.
