Rivers State Police Command has arrested three suspects, including a herbalist, in connection with the brutal murder and beheading of a nine-year-old schoolboy, identified as Destiny Peter, in what authorities suspect to be a ritual killing.
The incident, which occurred in Ikwerre Local Government Area, has sparked outrage among residents and renewed concerns over ritual-related crimes in the region.
According to preliminary police reports, Destiny Peter went missing from his home in the Ikwerre LGA earlier this week. Family members raised an alarm after the boy failed to return from a nearby errand. A subsequent search by relatives and community youths led to a grim discovery.
The boy’s headless body was found in a bush on the outskirts of the community, while his severed head was later recovered at a separate location following a tip-off. The nature of the killing immediately prompted suspicion of ritual motives, a trend that security experts say has resurfaced in parts of the South-South.
Acting swiftly, operatives of the Rivers State Police Command launched an investigation and tracked down three suspects. One of those arrested is a local herbalist believed to have links to the crime. The identities of the other two suspects have not yet been released, pending conclusion of ongoing interrogation.
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the arrests in a statement, noting that the command is treating the case as a suspected ritual murder. “We have three suspects in custody, including a native doctor. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, the motive, and whether more persons are involved,” the PPRO said.
The police added that forensic evidence and confessional statements are being analyzed, and the suspects will be charged to court once investigations are complete.
The killing has left the Ikwerre community in mourning and fear. Residents described Destiny as a quiet, well-behaved primary school pupil. Community leaders have condemned the act and called on the government to increase security presence and regulate unlicensed traditional practitioners.
Child rights groups in Rivers State also reacted, calling the murder “barbaric” and urging swift prosecution. “No child should be unsafe because of superstition and greed,” said a representative of the Child Protection Network. “We demand justice for Destiny and stronger action against ritual killings.”
Cases of missing children and suspected ritual murders have been reported in several states in recent years, often linked to beliefs that human body parts can be used for money rituals. Police nationwide have repeatedly warned that such practices are criminal and punishable by death under Nigerian law.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police has assured the family of the victim and the public that the command will ensure thorough investigation and prosecution. He also appealed to residents to provide credible information that could help dismantle networks involved in ritual crimes…See More
