The Delta State Police Command has arrested a woman accused of murdering her 10-month-old child, Prevail Jonathan, and a native doctor implicated in the ritual killing of an 8-year-old boy, Progress Ifeanyi.
The suspect, Blessing Ibuku, confessed that she threw her baby into the river on November 31, 2024. Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, revealed at a press briefing on Tuesday that a missing child report was filed with the police on December 4, 2024, for the 10-month-old, Prevail.
Later that day, police received a call about a child’s body floating in the river at Aviara community. Upon investigation, the body was identified as the missing child. CP Olufemi explained that during questioning, Blessing confessed that she had discarded her child in the river after being taunted by friends and peers, who made fun of her child’s lack of a father.
In a separate incident, a man from Owa-Alero reported his 8-year-old son, Progress Ifeanyi, missing, last seen with a man named Destiny Lawrence, a regular patron of the family’s shop. After confronting Lawrence, the father received no explanation, but later that day, the boy’s body was discovered in an uncompleted building with missing body parts.
Upon investigation, Destiny Lawrence confessed that a native doctor, identified as Jonah from Otolokpo community, had paid him N30,000 to abduct a young boy for ritual purposes. Lawrence lured Progress to the location where the boy was murdered.
The two suspects are currently in custody, while the police have launched a manhunt for the native doctor. CP Olufemi confirmed that investigations into both cases are ongoing.
