Osun state women protest ritual killings

Women in their hundreds on Sunday protested in Osogbo, capital of Nigeria’s state of Osun against increase in the activities of ritual killers

The women, who marched to the Palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, to register their displeasure over the activities of suspected ritualists, urged the monarch to come to their aid.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ritualists allegedly murdered and dumped corpses of two children around Sabo and Kelebe Area of the state.

Witnesses told NAN that vital part of the two bodies, including one of the victims’ right hands was severed.

Also a five year-old boy declared missing by the parents was found dead near a stream around Sabo Area of Osogbo on Friday with one of his hands missing.

Another corpse of an 11 year-old boy, hawking soya milk, was found around Iludun Area of Osogbo and his parents have searched for him for three days before his corpse was discovered on Saturday.

The genital organ and other vital parts of his body were removed by the suspected ritualists.

Similar cases of ritual killing have also been recorded at Odeomu and Ipetumodu, in Ayedaade and Ife North Local Government Areas respectively in the past weeks.

Olanipekun, while addressing the women assured them that the matter would be looked into and called on all security agencies in the state to rise up to their responsibilities by bringing the perpetrators to book

The state Police Command spokesman, Miss Folasade Odoro, confirmed the development, but said that only one corpse was discovered at Sabo area.

Odoro urged the people to be calm, assuring them that all the culprits would be arrested and brought to book as investigation was ongoing on the matter.