The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old man, Samuel Omosaba, for allegedly beheading his three-year-old niece on Tuesday at Ilepa quarters in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, who is jobless and single, was said to have contacted an herbalist in Ipe-Akoko for money rituals. He was told by the herbalist to look for a baby’s head.
It was gathered that the girl was always in her grandmother’s care, whenever her mother, Bunmi, a trader, was going to the market.
An eyewitness said: “On Tuesday, Bunmi took her daughter to her mother-in-law but met her husband’s elder brother at home. He promised to take care of the child, until her grandmother returns.
“On her return from the market, Bunmi met her daughter’s body in her brother-in-law’s room.
“The suspect ‘confessed’ to family members that he killed the girl. He was nearly lynched by aggrieved youths before the police rescued him.”
Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department (CID), Akure.