The Ogun State police command Tuesday said it had smashed a three-woman syndicate that allegedly specialises in stealing and trafficking of children. The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, identified them as Abibat Oyesanya (leader), Morenike Shittu and Olubunmi Funke.
They were among 29 other suspects paraded at the command’s headquarters in Elewaran for crimes ranging from armed robbery, vandalism, murder, unlawful possession of firearms and fraud. Two of the suspects, were self-styled prophets, Darasimi Rotimi, and his accomplice, Ibikunle Sunday, who allegedly killed one Sara Olowokere and dissected her body for rituals.
Ahmed told newsmen that the duo killed Olowokere in Sango area and “dissected her body, removed the head, wrist, heart, breast and private part.”
Prophet Sunday, an okada rider, admitted that he killed Olowokere by hitting a plank on her head, revealing that the victim was the girlfriend of the third suspect, who is now at large. But his accomplice, Rotimi, denied his involvement in the act, insisting, “I don’t know anything about the incidence. I am ready to die.”
Sunday said: “I hit a plank on her head. When she died we now shared her parts. I took her head. Ogo-eri and Darasimi took other parts of the body away. They said the parts are essential ingredients for ritual. Don’t mind him (Rotimi). He is just lying. If you commit an offence and confess, God will definitely forgive you. I regret my action. I hope the government will temper justice with mercy.”
The women syndicate, the police boss said were arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS), on October 15 at Mowe-Ibafo.
According to the commissioner, leader of the syndicate, Abibat, had been arrested before, prosecuted and jailed for similar offence, disclosing that investigations had revealed that the gang had carried out many child trafficking before they were apprehended.
But Abibat in an interview said she was never involved in child stealing, rather, she arranged children for adoption.
According to the 51-year-old, one of the suspects, Olubunmi Funke, had earlier brought her own three-year-old daughter, which she helped her to sell for N300,000 to a policewoman and collected N20,000 as commission.