A horrific incident has shaken the Keesi area of Adatan, Abeokuta, Ogun State, after Ifagbenga Taiwo, a trainee herbalist, allegedly slaughtered his 41-day-old son for ritual purposes.
According to reports, the suspect committed the heinous crime on Monday while the baby’s mother, Raimat Wasilat, was washing clothes outside their home. The mother had briefly laid the baby on a bed, unaware of the impending tragedy.
Taiwo has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command and is currently in custody. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.
The mother returned inside after washing only to find her son’s lifeless body with a slit throat, according to Punch.
A resident of the area, Mrs. Adewumi, disclosed that the mother’s cry for help drew the neighbours attention, prompting them to dash to her home.
She explained that upon entering the room, it was discovered that the suspected assailant had entered through the wooden window, slit the infant’s throat, and left him in a pool of blood.
Adewumi said, “I was hearing some noise and we came to this house to check what was happening. It was when we entered the room that we realised someone had entered through the window and slit the throat of the baby.
“The mother was washing clothes outside at this spot (pointing to the spot) before she went inside and discovered the lifeless body of her son who was just 41 days old.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday.
She stated that the infant’s mother accused her husband of the gruesome murder, prompting the police to arrest him.
She narrated, “At about 1400hrs, the police received a report from the Iteesi Itoko area in Abeokuta regarding the slaughter of a two-month-old infant, Ifakorede Ajani, inside the room where his mother had placed him on a bed.
“The mother, Raimat Wasilat, from Keesi, strongly suspected her husband, Ifagbenga Taiwo, who is training to be a herbalist. She alleges that he intended to use the child’s blood for rituals.
“The suspect has been detained, the crime scene was investigated, and the body was transported to the hospital for autopsy.”
Odutola said an “investigation is underway to discover the details of this horrific act.”