Police Arrest 5 Suspects For Alleged Money Rituals

Operatives attached to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Niger State Police Command have arrested five suspects for allegedly engaging in money rituals around the Bosso area of Minna, the state capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wasiu Abiodun said the operatives were on routine patrol around Bosso when they “received reliable information regarding ongoing ritual activities where some unknown persons were seen entering an isolated compound around the Garima area, Minna with suspicious items.

“On receipt of the information, the operatives swung into action and arrested the suspects while undergoing the ritual process.

“Those arrested were Mohammed Idris Dogara, 57, of Nassarawa State residing in Bosso; Aliyu Sule, 25, of Bosso; Abubakar Abdullahi, 40, of New-Garima area, Bosso; Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43, of Bosso and Shehu Abubakar, 40, of Maikunkele, who is the native doctor.”

According to the PPRO, at the scene of the arrest, some pieces of blood-stained red and white clothing, 4 calabashes, 2 live chicken, 3 slaughtered chicken, a blood-stained knife and a large mat on which the items were placed were recovered.

“During interrogation, it was revealed that Ibrahim, Abubakar, Aliyu and Mohammed approached Shehu, the native doctor, to perform money rituals for them using a skeleton discovered during mining activities which he refused, stating that he does not offer such services.

“The four suspects insisted, allegedly offering their biological children as sacrifice for the rituals for varying sums of money. After much pressure, the native doctor directed each of them to purchase a chicken and assemble at a given location where the ritual would be carried out and it was during the act that the suspects were arrested with the items,” he explained.

He said the suspects confessed to the crime and are undergoing further investigation after which they will be charged to court for prosecution.