BIG STORY: Our Victim Came For Money Ritual But We Used Him For Ritual —Suspected Ritualists

By Adelelye Kunle

Two suspected ritual killers, Lukman Yisa and Salami Usman, who were arrested for the alleged killing of a 26-year-old man, Wale Adefabi, for money ritual purposes, have poured out what transpired before, during and after their heinous act. The two suspects were shown to journalists on Tuesday by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale…”

Two suspected ritual killers, Lukman Yisa and Salami Usman, who were arrested for the alleged killing of a 26-year-old man, Wale Adefabi, for money ritual purposes, have poured out what transpired before, during and after their heinous act.

The two suspects were shown to journalists on Tuesday by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, at a press briefing which showcased the command’s efforts in busting crimes.

The police commissioner said that one of the suspects, Yisa, aged 31, was arrested andtransferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, by the Department of State Services (DSS) on May 31, based on his being suspected of engaging in ritual killing and sale of human parts.

CP stated that when interrogated, Yisa confessed to the killing of Adefabi over whom he and three others – Mustapha, Usman and one other simply known as BJ – conspired to use for money ritual.

This, the police boss said, made the detectives from Homicide Section to beam more searchlight, leading to the arrest of one of the mentioned accomplices, Usman, aged 26.

The remaining two suspects had remained at large after escaping to evade justice.

“The flesh of the deceased was recovered from the principal suspect (Yisa) and was taken to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for forensic analysis. Investigation in this case is ongoing to apprehend other culprits who were mentioned in the murder of the deceased,” Williams said.

When interviewed, Lukmon Yisa said he is from Oyo town. I’m an Islamic cleric (alfa) but also a bricklayer soak-away digger. I have been a cleric for a long time. I was arrested when law enforcement agents discovered human flesh in my possession.

“What happened was that some friends brought a young man to me to kill for money ritual. They are Usman, Mustapha and BJ. They had discussed before coming to me. Mustapha said that he asked him to help purchase an iPhone online but he collected the money without fulfilling his promise. Usman told me that Mustapha said that they should kill the victim for what he did and use him for money ritual. They debated among themselves and brought the young man. I didn’t know him before then.

He was lured to come and he brought his girlfriend. We all sat to drink tea but unknown to him, it had been laced with hemp. He started feeling sleepy because of the hard drug. The act was carried out in my office at Oke Aafin. His girlfriend also drank the tea and slept.

“We took him to the passage and hit him before strangulating him. We dismembered his body and shared the parts among ourselves. The other three took his head and body parts and flesh which filled a 25-litre paint bucket. I took the heart and flesh parts. This was in April or May 2021. It was after 5pm and rain was falling heavily which did not allow the girlfriend to go home initially.

“The girlfriend who woke up when she heard the scream of the victim jumped out of the window. About eight days later, she went to inform the police. From there, the news spread that we perpetrated the act so I ran to hide. The other three also ran away. My wife and two brothers were arrested but were later released. I went to rent a room in another area but heard that security agents were searching for me when they were told that I was using body parts for ritual. I poured the remaining body parts with me in ethanol. That was what was found with me.

“I bite my fingers in regret for doing such a thing. And I didn’t use it for any meaningful purpose, neither did it enhance my progress.”

In his confession, Usman said it was Mustapha who told him that he had an issue concerning an iPhone with the victim. He was also the one who said he knew an alfa who specialised in killing human beings to get body parts.