• Police in Ogun State have arrested a man and his wife for using their son for ritual
• They also arrested an accomplice in the crime who is a friend to the father of the late boy
• Locals suspected foul play when they noticed the boy was buried in a standing position.

Ogun State police officers are currently parading a couple for the alleged murder of their 7-year-old son for ritual.

Lajuwon Ogunleye, who is a herbalist, ‘connived with his wife Adetutu Apalaya to murder of their son, Pelumi, for ritual purpose,’ according to the police.

Police also arrested one Fatai Sefiu in connection with the ritual killing of boy.

The suspects were arrested on April 22 after police at Abigi Divisional Headquarters received information that the boy, who didn’t show any sign of illness, suddenly slumped and died.

Suspecting foul play, locals put them in surveillance. Unknown to the couple, they were monitored to the bush where the three of them buried the boy in an upright posture.

Meanwhile, they also cut off some parts of the boy. It was then the suspicion of ritual killing magnified.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this in a release, said upon confirmation of their suspicion, the people quickly alerted the police.

“The suspects led policemen to where the victim was buried and it was discovered that the deceased was buried in standing position,” The Nation quoted DSP Abimbola as saying.

“On interrogation, the second suspect, Fatai Sefiu, told the detectives that the boy was actually used for ritual by the stepfather in connivance with the deceased boy’s mother. He stated further that the couple have reached a conclusion before he was co-opted into the business.

“The mother of the victim Adetutu Apalaya who first denied having knowledge of her husband’s plan to use her son for ritual was dumbfounded when asked whether or not she followed them to the bush where her son was buried and the mode of burial.”

Meanwhile, CP Kenneth Ebrimson has given directive for the transfer of the case to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and prosecution.