A 50-year-old herbalist, identified as Kehinde Ganiyu, has been arrested by the Nigerian police for killing his friend, Emmanuel Collins, on a sick bed in connection with a money ritual.
It was gathered that the incident occurred last Thursday in Oba-Oke, located in the Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State.
Parading the suspect on Friday, the Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, disclosed that the suspect slit the throat of his friend to make ritual soap for internet fraudsters known as “Yahoo boys.”
According to Opalola, “On July 18, 2024, at about 3pm, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Oke-Odo Division in Osogbo was informed that a Ghanaian man named Emmanuel Collins, approximately 35 years old, was killed by an unidentified individual at around 2:30pm on the same day.”
“Police detectives acted swiftly, and their investigation, guided by intelligence, led to the arrest of Kehinde Ganiyu, a close friend of the deceased. Ganiyu has confessed to committing the crime.”
She explained that police operatives recovered four blood-stained knives, a pot of black soap, a traditional tray known as ‘Opon Ifa’, a wooden box, two sponges, and various local charms.
In an interview with reporters on Friday, July 26, Ganiyu admitted to murdering his close friend and using his throat to create ritual soap.
“I am a herbalist and farmer. I used to perform rituals for individuals involved in internet fraud, but they are the ones who bring human parts.”
He said, “I went to visit my friend, Emmanuel Collin, because he was ill. While he was in bed, I took a knife and cut his throat. I used the body part to make ritual money soap for Yahoo boys.”
“Following my friend’s passing, there was widespread panic in the Oba-Oke community within Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State. He was laid to rest, and I attended the burial to offer my condolences and support to the others.”
The suspect added that while he was at the burial site, he felt a strong pang of guilt over the death of his friend, which made him uneasy.
“People began to notice my behaviour and grew suspicious. This raised concerns, leading to a police investigation that ultimately pointed to me. I was arrested, and the police uncovered that I was responsible for his death,” he added.