Date: 2018-03-27

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered a suspected ritual killers' den at the Aleyo settlement on Ojoko Road, in the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Ayinla Adeyinka, who spoke through the command's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ayodele Bello, in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Monday, said the agency visited the scene following a complaint by a victim, Mr. Muminu Abdulrahman.

He explained that Abdulrahman had reported on Saturday that he had been extorted of N5m by the suspects.

According to him, the NSCDC team discovered many shrines and other gory objects at the scene.

He said two suspects, Mr. Kazeem Absdulsalam (54), of Omu-Aran, in the Irepodun LGA, and Mr. Adamu Hussein (36), of Marafa Oja, in the Ilorin East LGA, were apprehended at the scene.

The NSCDC boss claimed that Abdulsalam had confessed to ritual activities and scams through money doubling.

Adeyinka said, "It was a case of ritual activities and money doubling under false pretences and extortion. The complainant filed the case on March 24, 2018. He said about N5m had been extorted from him.

"When we got there, we saw some gory scenes at the shrines. Among the things we saw were the Alaragbo shrine, Abiku shrine, Iguni shrine, Baba Esu shrine, Baba Agba shrine and a lot of other things. The sight was appalling.

"From our investigation, it was clear that they had been carrying out ritual activities and collecting money from their victims under false pretences."

Adeyinka said the command, in collaboration with the state government, was working hard to get to the root of the incident.

The NSCDC boss also warned members of the public to avoid falling prey to fraudsters and ritual killers.

"Investigation is still ongoing; the complainant is with us. We are still unravelling the mysteries surrounding the incident. The prime suspect, Mr. Kazeem Abdulsalam, confessed that he asked the complainant to provide N280,000 to appease the gods.

"The complainant fell victim to them because he had been entreating the gods through them before now. Maybe he was able to record breakthroughs in the past and he still believed he could do it again."

Some members of the community said they were surprised at the discovery, adding that they always noticed exotic cars being driven into the area.

A resident, who identified himself simply as Tunde, said he did not know that the place was a den of ritual killers.

He said, "I have been wondering why big people always go to that place. They go in big cars. We did not know that the place is a den of ritual killers."

One of the suspects, Abdulsalam, denied that he was a ritual killer. He explained that the complainant had told him that he (Abdulrahman) did a money ritual and he was afraid that he could die because of it.

He said the complainant sought his spiritual help to avert the impending death.

The suspect also claimed that Abdulrahman sought his service for good contracts and money doubling. He denied extorting N5m from the victim, adding that he demanded N280,000 from him.

Abdulsalam said he usually helped people who had marital, family and social challenges, adding that the shrines were not for destructive purposes.

According to him, the shrines were to provide a good location for people shooting films and home videos.