Police arrest Trainee herbalist who allegedly slaughters his two-month-old son for ritual

Our reporter

A chilling incident in the Keesi area of Adatan, Abeokuta, has left residents in shock after a two-month-old infant, Ifakorede Ajani, was found dead under suspicious circumstances.

The Ogun State Police Command is currently investigating the case, which has led to the arrest of the child’s father, Ifagbenga Taiwo, a trainee herbalist, who is accused of committing the heinous act for ritual purposes. 

 

The tragic event unfolded on Monday, December 9, 2024, when the infant’s mother, Raimat Wasilat, left her son on a bed while she washed clothes outside their home. Upon returning, she discovered her son’s lifeless body, his throat slit, and the room soaked in blood. 

 

“I heard some noise and rushed inside,” Raimat reportedly told neighbors. “That’s when I saw my baby... he was gone.” Her screams for help alerted nearby residents, who gathered at the scene. One neighbor recounted how the suspected assailant might have gained access through a wooden window, carrying out the gruesome act in minutes. 

 

Local sources described the chaotic aftermath, with shocked residents demanding justice. Raimat’s father, Mukaila Olaide, who was nearby at the time, explained, “We were sitting a little distance away when we heard a commotion. By the time we got to the house, it was too late—the baby had already been slaughtered.” 

 

Police were promptly informed, and both the infant’s parents were taken in for questioning. Ogun State Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the arrest of Ifagbenga Taiwo following Raimat’s accusation that her husband might have killed their child to use his blood in a ritual. 

 

“The mother strongly suspects her husband, who is training to become a herbalist,” Odutola stated. “The scene has been secured, and the baby’s body was taken to the hospital for an autopsy. Investigations are on-going to determine the full extent of what happened.” 

 

Residents of the area have expressed disbelief and sorrow over the crime, which they described as shocking even by the standards of ritual-related violence sometimes reported in the region. Community leaders have called for calm as authorities work to unravel the mystery. 

 

While the investigation continues, neighbours and friends remain vigilant, urging authorities to ensure justice is served for the baby, whose short life ended in tragedy.