By Abdul Razaq Ibrahim, Abeokuta
It was horror on Monday at Akorede Estate, Mile 2 in Abeokuta North Local Government when a ritualists’ den was uncovered with different human parts, fetish pots and all sorts of charms which showed that series of illegal and nefarious activities were perpetrated in the place.
The ritualists’ den was discovered following a strange missing of 20-month-old, Opeyemi Ogundele, who was alleged to have been kidnapped at his cousin’s naming ceremony held on Sunday around Mile 2 area.
The light-complexioned boy was reported to have been taken by her mother, Elizabeth Ogundele, to the naming ceremony of his cousin, the Olusola Osunleke’s baby girl and strangely disappeared when his mother was busy assisting the brother’s wife with some chores.
She however, left Opeyemi in the company of other children in the corridor of the bungalow, where they were playing football. But Elizabeth came out later, in an effort to call Opeyemi to come for a change of his dress, but she could not find him.
She said, “I asked other children and the neighbours, but no one could tell the whereabouts of Opeyemi. I ran out of the house, and went searching in the neighbourhood but I could not locate him.
“It was while I was searching for my son that I passed by that house later referred to as a ritulists’ den, where I saw two men chatting and asked them if they saw my son pass by, but they merely giggled at me and felt unconcerned.
“I left them and continued with the search for my son. But later the two men locked the doors and left the house. The residents rose up and went to the suspected ritualists’ den, and broke the door open. I was told some fetish pots which contained human parts such as hands, breasts and intestines were found in the house.”
The ritualists’ den, a three-bedroom bungalow with a detached two-bedroom boys’ quarters, was said to have belonged to a herbalist, Chief Olasile Ifayemi, Jagunmolu Elegun Egba.
It was later gathered that the detached two rooms were used as shrine.
But the strange discovery on Monday made people to descend on the den, destroying the ceiling boards, doors, refrigerators, human effigy, masquerade regalia, fetish pots and charms.
It was gathered that the names of persons such as Bose, Damilola Seun, Bose, Dupe, Esther and Toyin were written with white chalk on the outer wall of the boys’ quarters, directly over each clay pot, filled with darkish water and sticks and photographs of whitemen on photocopied papers littered the ground.
Also littering the frontage of the building were clothes, bras, pants and other apparels said to belong to women who might have been victims in the den.
Also found inside the den were children’s clothes, bags and women make-up kits.
Elizabeth strongly believed that his son must have been a victim in the hands the two men giggling at her in front of the den, and she called on Nigerians to come to her aid, and rescue her son alive.
She pleaded,”My son will be one year eight months on Wednesday, July 29. I appeal to all Nigerians to help me locate my son.”
But while confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajeed Ali, said there was no link between the disappearance of the toddler and the discovery of the alleged ritualists’ den.
He explained that the police have commenced investigations on the matter.
He said, “Actually, the two-year-old boy was kidnapped yesterday but the site (ritualists’ den) that was discovered has no relationship with the boy and other human parts that were found at the site.
“Already we have commenced investigation on the matter and we will let you see what really happened when we finish our investigations.”
Meanwhile, a detachment of armed policemen and men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad was stationed around the building to maintain security, as residents from far and near stormed the area to catch a glimpse of the den.