4 Fathers Arrested for Allegedly Using Their Children for Money Ritual in Niger State

(Suspects. Photo by TheCable)

Police in Niger State have arrested four men who allegedly offered their biological children as sacrifices in a money ritual.

A native doctor was also arrested for allegedly taking part.

The details were shared by Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency publication, based on a bulletin from Niger State Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun.

Suspects are Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43, Abubakar Abdullahi, 40, Aliyu Sule, 25, and Mohammed Idris Dogara, 57.

The native doctor is Shehu Abubakar, 40.

They were arrested on October 27 at about 8:30pm at an isolated compound in the Garima area of Bosso, in Minna.

Police said the arrest followed credible intelligence from the anti kidnapping unit about suspicious activity linked to ritual practices at the location.

When officers arrived, they found blood-stained red and white clothing, four calabashes, live and slaughtered chickens, a blood stained knife and a mat where the items had been arranged.

According to the investigation, the four men went to the native doctor to ask for a money ritual.

They said a human skeleton found during mining work would be used.

The doctor refused, saying he does not offer such services.

The men kept insisting and offered their own children in exchange for different amounts of money.

The doctor then told each of them to buy a chicken and meet at a set location for the ritual.

Police said they moved in while the ritual was underway. One suspect, Aliyu Sule, was caught holding a blood-stained knife and getting ready to slaughter his chicken.

The other three had already slaughtered theirs.

Makama said the suspects confessed during questioning.

They are still being investigated and will be charged in court.