The Niger State Police Command has arrested five suspects for criminal conspiracy, being in possession of criminal charm, ill-treatment of domestic animals and unlawful society, over alleged money ritual activities in Minna.
According to a statement by the command, on 27th October, 2026 at about 8:30pm, a Police patrol team attached to the Anti-kidnapping Unit while on routine patrol around Bosso area received reliable information regarding ongoing ritual activities where some unknown persons were seen entering an isolated compound around Garima area, Minna with suspicious items.
On receipt of the information, the operatives swung into action and arrested Mohammed Idris Dogara, 57, of Nasarawa State residing in Bosso; Aliyu Sule, 25, of Bosso; Abubakar Abdullahi, 40, of New-Garima area, Bosso; Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43, of Bosso; and Shehu Abubakar, 40, of Maikunkele, a native doctor.
At the scene, the following items were recovered: some pieces of blood-stained red and white clothing, four calabashes, two live chickens, three slaughtered chickens, a blood-stained knife, and a large mat on which the items were placed.
During interrogation, it was revealed that Ibrahim, Abubakar, Aliyu and Mohammed approached Shehu, the native doctor, to perform money rituals for them using a skeleton discovered during mining activities, which he refused, stating that he does not offer such services.
The four suspects insisted, allegedly offering their biological children as sacrifice for the rituals for varying sums of money.
After much pressure, the native doctor directed each of them to purchase a chicken and assemble at a given location where the ritual would be carried out, and it was during the act that the suspects were arrested with the items.
One of the suspects, Aliyu Sule, was found at the scene holding the blood-stained knife about to slaughter his chicken while three others had already slaughtered theirs.
The suspects confessed to the crime and are undergoing further investigation, after which they will be charged to court for prosecution.
