I cant remember how many Children We Abducted for Rituals” – Suspect Confesses in Ilorin

A stunning admission has been made in Ilorin, Kwara State, when a man who was arrested for kidnapping confessed that he belonged to a ritualist syndicate and had kidnapped numerous children. The suspect, whose name is yet to be officially released, admitted that he could no longer count the number of children they had kidnapped in the past.

The suspect was arrested by the local security forces after he attempted to lure another child into an isolated area. His activities allegedly attracted the attention of people passing by, and the suspect was arrested before he could escape. When questioned, the suspect openly admitted to conducting ritual child kidnappings.

It was to him that he explained how his gang worked with herbalists who used the children for all sorts of ritual operations. He continued to reveal that most of the operations were carried out in other towns, and that their targets were usually vulnerable street children or abandoned kids.

Flashback: Similar Cases Still Fresh in Public Memory
In October 2022, another ritual-related arrest shocked the nation when three men were apprehended in Oyo State for attempting to use a teenage girl for money rituals. That event prompted severe public outrage and led to renewed demands for vigilance by the community and enhanced security. In that scenario, one of the men confessed that they had employed the same method on multiple occasions before they were apprehended.

Back to the Ilorin Incident
When questioned to tell the security officials how many children he and his gang had kidnapped, he said that he lost count. “We have done this so many times, I honestly can’t remember how many,” he told the security officials.

The arrest has generated fear and anger among the residents, especially parents who are afraid for the safety of their children. The local government officials report that they are working to identify other members of the group and recover any missing children involved in their activities.

The Kwara police has vowed to probe the issue and ensure that all those engaged in the acts are brought to book. They also warned people to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious event.

The suspect is meanwhile still in detention as investigations continue.