Police detectives attached to the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Onikan, Lagos, have arrested a 60-year-old man and three others for conniving to use his nine-year-old son for money ritual.
The Guardian learnt that the boy’s father, a Beniniose, identified as Bada Pome, had contacted one Benjamin Balovin, another Beniniose resident in Ilaro, Ogun State, for the purpose of using his last son, Agbi Bada, for money ritual, following which he in turn contacted one Segun Shile, and another, Ige Kose, an okada rider, who helped in transporting them to the point where the ritual was to be performed.
Zonal public relations officer, Hauwa Idris Adamu, who paraded the suspects, yesterday, said when the Police got wind of the plan to use the boy for money ritual, they acted as the native doctor demanded for N100,000 from them, which they paid, but they were promptly rounded up.
She said: “On May 30, the father of the boy, Bada Pome, a farmer, contacted his kinsman, Benjamin Balovin, another Beniniose that he wanted to send his child to Nigeria to work as a houseboy and the boy was brought to one Baba Shina at Ilaro. But the monthly pay was not enough. I think he was paid N5,000.
“So, the father got angry and asked that he should be brought back to Cotonou. Later, sometime in June, the father who has 10 children, contacted Benjamin again that their living condition was getting bad and that he wants to use the boy for money ritual, if possible.
“He begged Benjamin to look for a very good native doctor for the purpose. It was Benjamin Balovin that contacted Segun Shile, who leaves at Owode Yewa, to help look for a very viable herbalist for the purpose.
“He contacted one popular native doctor called Roshoko in the area, but the man told him pointblank that money ritual does not exist, but Shile kept disturbing him that those that needed the charm were foreigners, so he decided to help them. But rather than help them, it was Roshoko who contacted the police, who were now acting as the native doctor.”
Adamu added: “My men were talking with them on the phone regularly and they all agreed to carry out the ritual on July 17. First, they got to Baba Roshoko’s house and he demanded for N100,000 cash from them as agreed and which they paid.
“Afterwards, he stepped out and invited the police, who came and rounded them up.
“As we speak, the boy doesn’t know why he is here with us because he doesn’t understand English language. We shall look for how to return him to Cotonou and charge the suspects to court.
“The other suspect, Baba Shina is presently on the run. My men stormed his house at Ilaro, but I am sure he is aware that the lid had been blown open, so he escaped.”
