A suspected kidnapper has confessed to abducting an unspecified number of children from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, for ritualistic purposes.
The suspect, believed to be in his 20s, made the admission after being apprehended by police in Ilorin on Friday, 16 May 2025. Reports indicate he was saved from being lynched by an angry mob by a police team on routine patrol.
A widely shared video online shows the suspect, visibly bruised, admitting he cannot recall how many children his gang has abducted. The footage has sparked widespread outrage, highlighting the alarming prevalence of ritual-related kidnappings in the region.
The visibly battered suspect reeled out the names of other members of the gang and also disclosed to the mob that their team leader resides in Dagbolu, a suburb of Osogbo, Osun State capital.
He further stated that the team leader gave him N10 million to carry out the kidnapping act for which he was caught.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, who confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Ilorin, said the suspect has been taken into custody and is undergoing interrogation.
However, the Police spokesperson warned Kwara State residents against mob action and jungle justice, stressing that “such acts are not only unlawful but can also result in the miscarriage of justice.
