Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in the Alleged Ritual Murder of 8-Year-Old Boy
The Delta State Police Command has arrested Mr. Destiny Ogbeh and his master in connection with the tragic death of Progress Agidi, an 8-year-old boy believed to have been murdered for ritualistic purposes.
Investigations indicate that Destiny Ogbeh, who was serving as an apprentice to a local native doctor, allegedly lured the child into a nearby forest under the pretext of collecting firewood, where Progress was ultimately killed. It has been reported that Ogbeh received 30,000 Naira for leading the boy to his death.
In a conversation with Vanguard, Progress’ father, Mr. Ifeanyi Agidi, recounted the heartbreaking events that unfolded when his son went missing on November 23, 2024. “I noticed my son was missing and immediately began searching for him with my wife and other family members, but our efforts yielded no results,” he stated. “Later, we heard that Destiny Ogbeh had asked Progress to go with him to fetch firewood.”
Agidi explained that when they approached the native doctor’s residence for answers, both Ogbeh and his master denied having seen Progress. Frustrated after a fruitless search, the family went to the Owa Oyibu police station to report their son missing, but were advised to wait 24 hours before filing a formal complaint.
The search intensified when the local vigilante group became involved, leading to the grim discovery of Progress’ body in an abandoned building near the woods. His throat had been slit, and it appeared to be a case of ritualistic murder. The police were promptly notified, and the body was transported to a mortuary for examination.
Following the discovery, authorities launched a manhunt for Destiny Ogbeh and his master, who initially evaded capture. They were eventually found, and Ogbeh confessed to the police that he had enticed Progress into the woods with the promise of payment. He also implicated another individual, a Dr. Jonah, a native doctor residing in Otolokpo, as an accomplice in the crime.
The case has since been escalated from the Owa Oyibu police station to the Area Command in Agbor, and now to the Delta State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Asaba. Officers accompanied Agidi to the site where his son was found, which is located directly across from the home of the native doctor where Ogbeh was apprenticing. Investigations are ongoing as the police continue their efforts to apprehend the third suspect named by Ogbeh.
Despite the progress in the case, Agidi expressed concerns about the possibility of the already arrested suspects being granted bail. He emphasized that murder is typically non-bailable under Nigerian law, prompting him to seek public support to ensure the case receives the attention it deserves. “My son Progress must receive justice. They gruesomely took his life, and I fear that without public scrutiny, my son’s killers may go unpunished,” Agidi pleaded.
A police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, was unavailable for comment, but an insider confirmed that the suspects remain in custody. Agidi later verified to Vanguard that he indeed saw them detained during a visit to the police station.
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