Thelma Osatohanmwen
Tragedy struck in okeigbo, ile-oluji/okeigbo local government area of ondo state as a 39-year-old fruit seller, Dolapo Babalola, admitted to murdering his cousin and four others for ritual purposes.
Babalola, who was paraded alongside 18 other suspected criminals, admitted to using the victims’ body parts for rituals.
Speaking with news men at the police headquarters in Akure, the state capital, the suspect narrated the gruesome details of his crimes, confessing to targeting motorcyclists, snatching their bikes, and subsequently killing them when they recognized him.
He also stated that he used stones and sticks to bludgeon his victims to death after dragging them off their motorcycles.
Babalola, who claimed to have been engaged in the illicit activities since 2021, revealed that he and his accomplices operated within the town and neighboring states, terrorizing innocent victims.
“I have killed five persons, including my cousin and my friend, and snatched their motorcycles. I do not sell human parts, but I took part of one of my victims’ bodies to an herbalist in Ondo, who promised to give me an Ifa Oracle,” he said.
Detailing the extent of the crimes, the state commissioner of police Abayomi Oladapo stated, “In April 2023, he killed a motorcyclist in Kabba, Kogi State, and in June 2023, he killed another motorcyclist at Ondo town. Additionally, in October 2023, the suspect and an accomplice deceived his childhood friend and brutally murdered him for rituals.”
Several accomplices, including receivers of stolen items and individuals involved in producing fake documents, have also been apprehended in connection with the case.