PHOTO: The suspected native doctor and ritualist, Rufa’i Yunusa.
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi–
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 28-year old native doctor, Rufa’i Yunusa, of Rumbu Village in Ningi LGA, for allegedly slaughtering four minors aged between two and four years old for ritual purposes.
In a statement made available to NATIONAL ACCORD on Sunday, The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, said that the suspected ritualist was arrested on February 17th, 2021.
SP Wakil said the suspect’s arrest, followed a complain made by one Isyaku Ahmed of Kafin Madaki, to the Police that the native doctor, allegedly deceived him that his daughter was suffering from a spiritual ailment and would need to undergo spiritual healing.
He said that when Ahmed took his daughter for the said spiritual healing session, the suspected herbalist allegedly slaughtered her.
Part of the statement reads: “The Bauchi State Police Command on Wednesday, 17th February, 2021, arrested a 28-year old suspected ritualist named Rufa’i Yunusa, who has been involved in the killing of not less than four little children between the ages of two and four years old”.
“His arrest followed a complaint lodged at the Ganjuwa Division of the State Command on the same day at about 4.30pm, by one Isyaku Ahmed of Unguwan Yamma, Kafin Madaki”
“He reported that on Tuesday 16th February, 2021, at about 12.30pm, he took his daughter, one Maimuna Isyaku, to a native doctor (Rufa’i Yunusa) for traditional treatment where the said Rufa’i told him that his daughter (Maimuna) is suffering from a spiritual ailment and assured him that his daughter will be cured.
“He then solicited for, and got the sum of N10,000 from the father, after which he took the little girl into the forest purportedly for a spiritual healing session; only to return after a while to inform the girl’s father that the little girl had mysteriously disappeared during the process,” he stated.
The Police Spokesman said that upon receipt of the report, the Ganjuwa Divisional Patrol team swung into action, combed the entire forest and “found the slaughtered body of the said Maimuna.”
He said that girl was immediately rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead by a Medical Doctor.
SP Wakil, said that the suspected ritualist has since been arrested in connection to the crime and during interrogation voluntarily confessed to have slaughtered the said Maimuna.
He said: “He (the suspect) further revealed that she was not his only victim and claims to usually carry out the act with parental consent by tacitly informing them that the children may not return during healing sessions.
“A knife and 26 pairs of children clothing were recovered as exhibits during the operation and investigations are on-going after which the suspect will be charged to court for prosecution and possible conviction.”
He said that on the backdrop of this development, the command wishes to caution parents to be wary of who they usually take their children to for any form of healing admonishing that “they should not allow desperation but objectivity be their guide in seeking remedy for their sick children as there abound many wolves in sheep’s clothing.”