Police probe fresh Okija killings

Arrest 12 suspects

From Daily Independent Online
By Chris Agbambu (Abuja) and Onche Odeh (Lagos)

Wednesday, August 10, 2005—Police have arrested 12 of the new set of worshippers at the Okija shrine to check the human sacrifices they are determined to revive.

The police team comprises some of the best hands in the special operations unit in Lagos and Abuja, drafted after a tip-off from Orbed Igwe, the man who exposed the vile activities last year which led to the arraignment of 40 worshippers.

According to an inside source, the team acted on a signal that came on June 26 from Force Headquarters, Abuja after Igwe petitioned that some persons use the shrine for ritual purposes.

The team spent the whole of July in Anambra State combing its nook and cranny – during which they arrested the 12.

The police established the direct roles of seven of them who are indigenes of Okija.

The seven, it is alleged, constitute more of a nuisance to the rest of the inhabitants due to their assumed larger than life status.

A prominent indigene of the state, who resides in Ihiala, was also arrested.

The man was said to have kept a corpse in his house alongside several children aged below 15 who were presumed to be virgins used for rituals.

The team extended its dragnet to the shrine proper after making its way through the Ulas stream and discovered that people still patronise the place.

It was learnt that a few were waiting to be attended to when police officers arrived. Some were quizzed while the chief priest, aged and worn out, was left untouched.

Another source confirmed that fresh corpses littered the shrine.

However, the team did not interfere with the cult activities; all it did was swoop on those who have turned the shrine into a reference point for perpetrating evil on their perceived enemies.

It is said that the police may have classified other gory findings pending further investigation.

Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ighodalo, confirmed in a telephone interview on Tuesday that the state Police Commissioner, Felix Ogbaudu, has taken steps to conduct further investigation into the latest developments.

Again, the police high command is planning another raid on the shrine.

A source disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja that arrangements have been concluded by Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to dispatch a team of detectives on Thursday.