The police in Edo state have arrested and detained four persons, including a native doctor, for allegedly killing a 62-year-old man who carries a hunchback, for money rituals, The News reports.
The state commissioner of police, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, who paraded the suspects on Friday in Benin, gave their names as Aluma Sunday, Peter Olotu, Philip Ogeneka and Sunday Ogono.
One of the suspects, Aluma, was said to have been nabbed during a stop and search operation by the police at Sabongida-Ora, in Owan West local government area of the state.
Aluma who’s arrest led to the arrest of other suspects, was said to be taking the victims’ hunch to the native doctor’s residence in Ondo State.
Speaking during a parade at the police headquarters, the suspects said it was poverty that drove them to look for where to make quick money.
Aluma said he live in the same Arue village with the victim and that it was Peter that killed the victim.
On his part, Peter told journalists that he told the victim to accompany him to the farm where he strangled him and cut off the hunch.
He said he left the body to rotten away and that it was when they were arrested he took the police to where he killed the victim.
Peter said he took the hunch to Aluma who placed it inside a pot of honey for preservation before they were arrested.
The native doctor, Philip, however denied asking them to bring a hunch back parts for money rituals.
Philip said he only told them he heard from his father that there were some persons that could carry out the act in Ife.
Police Commissioner, Haliru Gwandu, urged the public not to panic about stop and search operations of the police.
He said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.
