- Safiu Kehinde
The Katsina State Police Command has nabbed a 50-year-old man over alleged attempt to carry out a ritual involving a newborn baby at the General Hospital in Funtua.
Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Katsina.
According to Sadiq-Aliyu, the suspect identified as Sagir Muntari was arrested after the hospital’s Chief Security Officer reported suspicious activity on the premises.
The incident occurred on May 9 at about 4:20p.m. when a hospital staff member spotted Muntari roaming suspiciously around the facility and alerted security personnel.
“Detectives were immediately dispatched to the scene and arrested the suspect,
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly entered the hospital intending to obtain the womb of a newborn for ritual and spiritual purposes.” Sadiq-Aliyu said.
The suspect, Muntari, confessed to the crime during interrogation, and investigations are ongoing.
“The suspect will be charged to court once investigations are concluded,” the spokesperson said.
He quoted the Police Commissioner in the state, CP Ali Umar-Fage warning against all forms of ritual-related crimes and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and public institutions.
The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines.