The Niger State Police Command has arrested five suspects.
They include four men who were nabbed over an alleged money ritual plot in which they reportedly offered their biological children for sacrifice in exchange for wealth.
The suspects were arrested during a police operation at an isolated compound in the Garima area of Bosso, Minna, where officers allegedly interrupted a ritual involving slaughtered chickens, blood-stained clothing and other suspicious items.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement in Minna.
According to the police, the incident occurred on October 27, 2026, at about 8:30pm when operatives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, while on routine patrol around Bosso, received intelligence about suspected ritual activities at an isolated compound in Garima.
The operatives reportedly moved to the location and arrested five persons identified as Mohammed Idris Dogara, 57, from Nasarawa State but residing in Bosso; Aliyu Sule, 25, Abubakar Abdullahi, 40, of New Garima; Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43 and Shehu Abubakar, 40, a native doctor from Maikunkele.
Items recovered at 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 items were arranged.
The police said preliminary investigations revealed that Ibrahim, Abubakar, Aliyu and Mohammed had approached the native doctor to perform money rituals for them using a skeleton allegedly discovered during mining activities.
The native doctor reportedly declined their request, explaining that he did not offer such services.
However, the four men allegedly persisted and offered their biological children as sacrifices in exchange for different sums of money.
Following their insistence, the native doctor reportedly instructed each of them to purchase a chicken and assemble at a designated location for the ritual.
The police said the suspects were arrested while carrying out the activities, with Aliyu Sule allegedly found holding a blood-stained knife and preparing to slaughter his chicken, while three others had already slaughtered theirs.
The command said the suspects confessed to the allegations and were undergoing further investigation before being charged to court.
However, the police statement did not disclose the identities or ages of the children allegedly offered for the ritual, whether they had been located or whether any child had been exposed to immediate danger.