Adetutu Sobowale
A 35-year-old suspected ritualist, Ifasoji Ayangbesan, has denied the allegation leveled against him that he tried to bribe policemen with N1 million
Ayangbesan said that a lawyer had instructed him to provide N10 million to secure his release, but,was only able to gather N1 million.
He also mentioned that he was arrested when he went to deliver the money to the lawyer.
He however confessed to purchasing a pair of fresh human legs for money rituals at the rate of N20,000.
PLATFORM TIMES recalled that on Sunday, Ayangbesan was arrested and was accused of trying to bribe policemen with N1 million over the killing of one Adeyemi.
The said victim was reportedly killed on January 28, 2023, by Ayangbesan and other members of a notorious ritualist syndicate.
The Ogun State police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, recalled that some ritualists had killed and dismembered the body of Adeyemi, which they sold to some people.
However, Ayangbesan, who is a resident of the Iloti axis of the Ijebu-Ode local government area of Ogun state, clarified that he did not kill the victim, but instead obtained the legs from his friend Lukman, who he said claimed they were from a dead body he exhumed from a cemetery.
The suspect made this known on Wednesday, during the police parade of suspected criminals in the state at the Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
He stated that he had already burnt the legs in anticipation of the ritual but was arrested by the police after Lukman, who had been caught by the police earlier, mentioned his involvement.
He said, “I did not offer the police any bribe. When I heard that the police were on the lookout for me, a lawyer told me to get N10 million to set myself free, but I told him I could not raise the money. However, I was able to raise N1 million. Unfortunately for me, the lawyer claimed that I had informed someone about him asking me for money. He then instructed me to act the money in front of him and he took a picture, and then I was arrested. I never offered police money.”
“I indeed bought two fresh human legs, but I was not involved in the murder of the victim. I was approached by my friend, Lukman, who told me he had a pair of legs to sell. Though I told him I did not need them, he convinced me to use them for a ritual to better my life, and I agreed.
“I, however, told him I did not know how to make money rituals as I was not taught that as a traditionalist. He then referred me to his friend from Oye, popularly known as Egbeji in Isiwo.
“After I was taught how to go about it, I burned the legs and kept them in my house with plans to complete the ritual when I returned from Ajah because I had a job to do there.
“However, my daughter called me while I was at Ajah that the police had come to the house looking for me. So, I later sneaked in and took away the burnt legs so that I would not be caught with any evidence because I heard that Lukman had been arrested and he had mentioned my involvement in the case.”
Others paraded include five suspected cultists, eight armed robbers, and one serial killer from Abeokuta and its environs.
While parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Olanrewaju Oladimeji, said the arrest was a result of a joint strategic effort to deal with criminal elements in the state after he was briefed about the crime situation in the state.
He said, “As soon as I assumed office, I was briefed by my officers about the crime situation in the State and we jointly mapped out a strategy on how best to deal with the criminal elements to ensure that the good people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed.
“The command’s tactical teams and DPOs were there and then given a marching order to take the battle to the doorsteps of the criminals wherever they may be across the state.
“The result of the various strategic operations to flush out the criminals is what we are showcasing today.”
He also warned criminals in the state to relocate, saying it will no longer be conducive for them.
“Let me state unequivocally that the beat has changed and the dancing steps must follow suit. It is time for criminals in the State to relocate because the state will no longer be conducive for them. All in our arsenal will be rolled out to wage war against crime and criminality, as well as their sponsors.
“To the law-abiding citizens, be rest assured that your safety is guarded at all times and we seek your cooperation to jointly tackle criminals among us headlong. This you can do by giving us useful information that will assist us in our efforts to rid the state of crime,” he warned.
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