The Niger State Police Command has arrested four men accused of offering their biological children for human sacrifice in exchange for wealth through money rituals in Minna, Niger State.
The suspects were arrested alongside a 40-year-old native doctor, identified as Shehu Abubakar, during a police operation at an isolated compound in the Garima area of Bosso Local Government Area of Minna.
According to a report by conflict reporter and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the suspects were identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43; Abubakar Abdullahi, 40; Aliyu Sule, 25; and Mohammed Idris Dogara, 57.
They were arrested on October 27, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m. after operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit received intelligence about suspected ritual activities taking place at the compound.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrests in a crime bulletin issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, stating that operatives immediately mobilised to the location following the intelligence report and apprehended all five suspects while the alleged ritual preparations were underway.
Items recovered from the scene included blood-stained red and white clothing, four calabashes, two live chickens, three slaughtered chickens, a blood-stained knife and a large mat on which the recovered items had been arranged.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the four men had approached the native doctor to perform money rituals using a human skeleton allegedly discovered during mining activities.
However, the native doctor initially declined their request, reportedly telling them that he did not offer such services.
The suspects allegedly persisted in their demands and subsequently offered their biological children as human sacrifices in exchange for different sums of money.
Police said the native doctor eventually instructed each of the men to purchase a chicken and report to a designated location where the ritual would be performed.
The operation was reportedly interrupted by police operatives while the suspects were carrying out the preparations.
One of the suspects, Aliyu Sule, was allegedly caught holding a blood-stained knife and preparing to slaughter his chicken, while three other suspects had already slaughtered theirs before the arrival of the operatives.
The police further disclosed that the suspects confessed during interrogation, adding that they were currently undergoing further investigation ahead of their prosecution in court.
The Niger State Police Command condemned ritual-related crimes and other violent offences, reiterating its commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining public safety across the state.
Abiodun also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information about suspicious activities within their communities to help prevent criminal activities and strengthen security across Niger State.