In a horrifying case that exposes the perils of desperation and belief in quick riches through occult means, 35-year-old Ayoade Moses from Osun State was brutally murdered by two herbalists he trusted to perform a money ritual. Moses, reportedly willing to trade his lifespan for wealth—allegedly stating he didn't mind living only five more years if it meant becoming rich—approached the suspects for help, only to become their victim.
Sources from the Osun State Police Command revealed that Moses sought out the herbalists, Afolabi Faseun, 39, and Afolabi Fadare, 38, both based in Osogbo, for a ritual to boost his finances. Instead of fulfilling his request, the duo allegedly lured him to their shrine, killed him, dismembered his body, and shared the parts for further ritual purposes or sold them to buyers in the underground market for human parts.
During a police parade, Faseun confessed, "He came to us for money ritual. We saw an opportunity and decided to use him instead." Fadare admitted to helping dismember the body, packing parts into a box, and distributing them. Police recovered evidence linking them to the crime, including remnants from the shrine.
This incident underscores the alarming rise in ritual killings across Nigeria, often tied to economic struggles and superstition. Experts note that vulnerable individuals like Moses, facing poverty, fall prey to fraudulent herbalists promising instant wealth.
Moses' family expressed outrage and grief. "Ayoade was just trying to better his life. These men exploited his hope and took everything," a relative told Report Naija.
The Osun State Police have charged the suspects and are investigating potential buyers of the body parts. Spokesperson Yemisi Opalola urged the public to avoid such dangerous practices and report suspicious activities.
*Disclaimer: Dates and details are based on available police and media reports from 2021.*