Suspected Ritualist K!lls 6-Year-Old Boy In Bayelsa, Hides Mutilated Body Inside A Sack
Serious tension has enveloped the Aretalin area of Ovom community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, after the brutal murder of a 6-year-old boy by a suspected ritualist identified as Bobby.
The suspect was apprehended on Wednesday night while attempting to flee with the mutilated remains of the child hidden in a sack. Eyewitnesses say the discovery enraged members of the Hausa community in the area, prompting an attempted mob action.
However, timely intervention by Hausa elders prevented a violent outbreak, as they restrained the crowd and handed the suspect over to the police.
According to the family of the victim, the boy had come to Yenagoa to celebrate the Salah holiday when his life was tragically cut short.
A delegation from the National Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence (AWAGBV) and the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bayelsa State chapter, visited the bereaved family on Thursday to offer condolences and demand justice.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairperson of FOMWAN Bayelsa, Hajia Aisha Abeki, expressed deep sorrow over the killing, describing it as a horrific act that has left women across the state grieving.
“FOMWAN condemns this wicked act in its entirety and calls on the Bayelsa State Police Command to ensure justice is not only done but seen to be done,” she said.
Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, President of AWAGBV, also condemned the killing and urged law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to act swiftly and decisively.
“We are calling on all relevant stakeholders to rise and ensure that the life of this innocent child does not go in vain. Justice must be served,” she stated.
As at press time, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Bayelsa, Dr. Boma Tonye Miebai, alongside other rights advocates, confirmed that the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, had assured them of the command’s commitment to a thorough investigation.
The police spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, also confirmed the arrest of the suspect and stated that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
