Date: 2021-09-11

Five suspected ritualists have been arrested by the Kwara State police command over the murder of a commercial sex worker identified as Abigail.

The Command's spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi said the victim was lured by one of the suspects, Samuel Peter Tsado under the guise of patronage.

He added that she was later strangulated by Tsado when they got home with the help of an accomplice, Mohammed Gbara.

He gave the names of others as Abubakar Mohammed (Mallam Baba Pati), Mohammed Ahmadu and Bala Karim.

Narrating the incident, Okasanmi said "The head of late Abigail was severed with a knife and her headless body dumped in the bush along Patigi/Rifun road, Patigi.

"Investigation however, led to the arrest of Tsado who confessed that he actually contracted the deceased for sex in connivance with the accomplice for ritual purposes", he added.

He said following the arrest of the suspects in Minna, they took detectives to the bush where the carcass of the deceased was recovered.

"Both Samuel and Mohammed went separately away, to reassemble in Bida on 30/6/2021. While in Bida, the deceased head was kept in Mohammed Abubakar home awaiting the arrival of the ritualist from Maiduguri in Borno State for the money ritual exercise.

"They confessed to the offence and also confessed to have been involved in an earlier ritual attempt using a hand of one victim yet to be identified", he added.

Okasanmi said effort to recover the head of the deceased was still in progress as the custodian of the head and three other suspects are still at large.