The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old woman and a self-acclaimed spiritualist over the alleged killing of a five-year-old girl who was reportedly thrown into a river in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
The woman, identified as Osasere, was apprehended after she allegedly dumped her daughter in the River Ovia following advice from the spiritualist, who reportedly claimed the child was responsible for her repeated miscarriages.
The incident came to public attention after a video circulated on social media showing residents confronting the suspect shortly after the act.
According to accounts from the community, fishermen who witnessed the incident from a nearby fishing boat quickly intervened and prevented an angry mob from attacking the woman.
Sources said the victim, a five-year-old girl, had a physical condition that affected her ability to walk normally.
It was gathered that the suspect, who had reportedly suffered multiple miscarriages after the birth of her first child, sought spiritual help over her inability to have more children.
The spiritualist allegedly convinced her that the child was not human but a python in disguise and was responsible for her pregnancy losses.
Acting on the advice, the woman was said to have taken the child to the river and thrown her into the water, believing she would transform into a snake.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to recover the body of the girl had not yielded results.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Yamu, said both the mother and the spiritualist had been taken into custody while investigations continued.
The police said detectives were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of all those involved.
In a separate development, the command also arrested a couple, Charity Jacob and Monday John, for allegedly attempting to sell a two-year-old girl for N3 million.
The suspects were reportedly intercepted by operatives attached to the Irrua Division while trying to hand over the child to prospective buyers near MOPOL Junction in Irrua.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the child had been stolen before the attempted sale.
Police authorities said the couple allegedly conspired with others to traffic the child for financial gain.
The command added that the suspects remain in custody while efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the trafficking network.
The police reiterated their commitment to protecting children and combating human trafficking and other crimes across the state.