A 16-year-old boy, Lawal Wahab, who was declared missing in Ogun State, has been found dead with his body mutilated in what police describe as a suspected case of ritual killing.
The teenager, who had been staying with his grandmother, was reported missing by his father, Mr. Lawal Olumide. After days of frantic search, his decomposing corpse was discovered on July 23 along the Old Express Road, Igbile-Ijebu, sending shockwaves across the community.
When his body was found, several vital organs were missing. His head, both wrists, heart, and genitals had been cut off, a pattern that authorities say suggests a ritualistic motive.
Following the gruesome discovery, operatives attached to the Omu-Ijebu Police Division swung into action and arrested some suspects in connection with the crime.
Among those in custody are 25-year-old Salawu Omikansola and one Serefusi Agemo. The police confirmed that one of the suspects made a confessional statement, which was recorded on video.
Due to the condition of the body, the remains of the teenager have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, CSP Omolola Odutola, said in a statement issued on Saturday that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
She added that efforts are ongoing to arrest others suspected to be involved in the murder.
“The Ogun State Police Command condemns this heinous act and assures the public that justice will be pursued to its logical conclusion,” Odutola said in the statement.
The police also urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or persons in their communities.
