Rita Odafe
A Nigerian herbalist named Ganiyu Kehinde, residing in Oba-Oke, Osun State, was apprehended by the authorities for the murder of his acquaintance, Emmanuel Collins.
Kehinde has admitted to the crime, revealing that he carried out the gruesome act to obtain human body parts for money-making rituals.
Among the suspects arrested for various offenses across Osun State, Kehinde was presented along with others at the police headquarters in Osogbo by the Osun Police Command.
Detailing the incident, the Police Command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, mentioned that a report was received at Oke-Odo Division in Osogbo regarding the killing of a 35-year-old Ghanaian, Collins, by an unidentified perpetrator.
“Acting on intelligence, the police detectives apprehended Kehinde Ganiyu, a close associate of the deceased. He confessed to the brutal act, stating that on July 9, 2024, at around 9:00 pm, he visited the deceased’s home armed with a knife. Finding him asleep due to illness, he proceeded to slaughter him and extracted his throat. He then dried the throat for three days, took it to a bush in Igbo Imese Aiwosi Area, Oba-Oke village, burned it with ritual items, and incorporated the burnt ashes into soap for money rituals (OSOLE). He admitted to executing the operation alone. The investigation is ongoing, and charges will be brought against the suspect in due course,” Opalola disclosed.
Upon interrogation, Kehinde, who identified himself as an herbalist, confessed to the murder and confessed to using the throat to craft money ritual soap.
He stated, “I am an herbalist. The deceased was my friend. I can’t explain what possessed me. I found him unwell, and I attacked and killed him for a money ritual. It was the devil who drove me to kill my friend for a money ritual. Following his demise, I extracted his throat and used it to create a soap for money rituals, a practice I have engaged in before for four Yahoo boys. The devil influenced me to carry out the act.”
Another individual paraded was Effiong Saviour, 22, who allegedly assaulted a woman with a machete in Ipetumodu, seizing her handbag containing a phone, GTB ATM card, and N6,000 after inflicting injuries on her.
Emphasizing the consequences of criminal behavior, Opalola cautioned that all suspects would face legal action once investigations into their offenses are concluded, and encouraged the public to provide prompt information to deter criminal activities.
