A suspected ritualist, Samuel Adewunmi, also known as Ifa Science, has been arrested by the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly mutilating a two-month-old baby.
According to a statement from the command’s Public Relations Officer, Dyke Ogbonnaya, the suspect was apprehended following a report by the baby’s father, who noticed a cut on the back of the child’s head and raised an alarm.
The incident occurred on May 1, 2025, and led to Adewunmi’s arrest in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Ogbonnaya confirmed that the suspect is being investigated for causing damage grievous bodily harm with suspected ritualistic intent.
Reacting to the development, NSCDC State Commandant Remilekun Ekundayo urged parents to be vigilant about their children’s safety.
She emphasized that the crime falls under punishable offences as defined in the Ogun State Criminal Code, assuring the public that justice will be served.
“Anyone attempting to inflict bodily harm or engage in ritual acts should be prepared to face the full weight of the law,” Ekundayo warned.
This incident recalls a similar case reported on December 11, 2014, when the Ogun State Police arrested a trainee herbalist, Ifagbenga Taiwo, for allegedly killing his 41-day-old son for ritual purposes in the Keesi area of Abeokuta. The child’s mother, Raimat Wasilat, reportedly left the baby inside while doing laundry, only to return and discover his lifeless body with a slit throat.