Ritualist kidnaps neighbour six days to his wedding, kills him after collecting ransom

By TUNDE OYEKOLA

A man, Mr Olokose Ojo, has been murdered six days to his wedding by his neighbour who promised to assist him to get cows for the ceremony in Kwara State.

Ojo, said to be in his early 30 and a staff member at the National Health Insurance Scheme unit of the University of Ilorin  Teaching Hospital was said to have been murdered by the neighbour, Kazeem Mohammed, and his gang for ritual purposes.

It was alleged that Mohammed and his gang were ritualists and Mohammed had twice served jail terms.

The remains of the victim was said to have been cut into pieces by the suspected ritualists and packed into a sack and deposited at the mortuary of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

It was further gathered sensitive parts of his body had been removed while the suspect had poured acid on his remains for speedy decay.

A source said, “The wedding was supposed to take place in March in Akure, Ondo State. Ojo gave Mohammed N350,000 to buy three cows for him.

“The duo later travelled to Patigi, in the Patigi Local Government Area of the state to buy the cows.

“The groom was attacked in the bush in Patigi by his trusted neighbour and other members of his gang.

“The gang also called his relations that he had been kidnapped and demanded N12m ransom, which was negotiated to N3m.

“The suspects also used the victim’s ATM cards and collected about N1.2m before he was murdered.”

Further findings revealed that the suspects killed the victim shortly after the relations paid part of the ransom demanded.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident.

He said, “We have commenced investigation and started making some arrests. That is what I can say for now. The investigation is still ongoing.”

The family and relations of the victim came to the teaching hospital on Tuesday to collect his remains for burial. (The PUNCH: Text, excluding headline)