Suspected Ritualist Kills 6-Year-Old Boy in Bayelsa, Hides Mutilated Body in Sack
…Muslim Community, Women Groups Demand Justice Over Alleged Cover-Up
YENAGOA – A suspected ritualist, identified as Bobby, has been apprehended in Bayelsa State for the gruesome murder of a six-year-old Muslim boy in the Aritalin area of Ovom community, Yenagoa Local Government Area.
The suspect, a native of the Ovom community and popularly known as Bobby, was caught around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday while allegedly attempting to flee with the mutilated remains of the child concealed in a sack.
The shocking discovery sparked outrage among members of the Hausa community in the area, leading to a near-mob action that was only averted by the swift intervention of Muslim elders. The suspect was subsequently handed over to the police.
When a delegation from the National Leadership of the Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence (AWAGBV) and the Bayelsa State chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) visited the bereaved family, they were met with solemn calls for justice.
A family member of the deceased explained that the young boy had travelled to Yenagoa to celebrate the Sallah festivities but tragically lost his life in the most horrific manner.
Chairperson of FOMWAN in Bayelsa and a member of AWAGBV, Hajia Aisha Abeki, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and conveyed the collective grief of Muslim women in the state. “We are heartbroken. FOMWAN strongly condemns this heinous act and calls on the Bayelsa State Police Command to ensure justice is served without compromise,” she stated.
Also speaking, the National President of AWAGBV, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy-Harry, described the incident as inhumane and unacceptable. She urged all relevant authorities and agencies to ensure a thorough investigation and prosecution of the suspect to deter similar crimes.
As of the time of filing this report, the Chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Bayelsa, Dr. Boma Tonye Miebai; FOMWAN Bayelsa; and Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy-Harry confirmed to journalists that the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, had given assurances that the suspect was already in custody and that the police were actively investigating the matter.
The women’s groups and the grieving community continue to call for transparency in the investigation and justice for the slain child.
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