Operatives of Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti has begun investigation into what led a 16-year-old Tajudeen Azeez to slaughter a four-year-old boy, Ibrahim Hassan in a bush in Ijanikin area of the state last Sunday, July 26.
Little Ibrahim was allegedly butchered by Tajudeen and a herbalist whose true identity remains unknown behind Anglican Primary School, Deeper Life Bus Stop, Ijanikin, Lagos State.
He was spotted with the lifeless body of Ibrahim, whose his penis, kidney and intestines had been removed. He led the police to arrest seven others whom he alleged knew and participated in the crime.
Looking blank and appeared not disturbed by the weight of the crime, Tajudeen, who hails from Ibadan, Oyo State, told Saturday Sun reporter that he was paid only N1000 to bring the boy.
“Everyone knows that the Babalawo’s (herbalist) power in the community is too much. He has been disturbing me that he needs body parts that I should help him bring a small boy. I even advised him that it would be better if we look for an adult but he said that children are more potent. He told me that they are innocent and their blood are still pure.
“Initially he gave me N100 to buy biscuit for the child. I started by giving him biscuit so that the boy will like me so much. Luckily for me, on Sunday evening, they were left alone to play in their compound. Since he has got used to my face, I called him that we are going to buy a bigger biscuit that night. Since he knew that we were going to buy biscuit, he did not cry but was happy even when we entered the bush,” Tajudeen narrated.
According to him, the unnamed herbalist was already waiting for him in the bush. “When we got there, he sprayed powder on his face and he slept off. I had to hold him down on the floor while he sliced off the penis; he then cut open the stomach and brought out the intestine, kidney and heart. He put those things on fire and roasted them. He then grinded them and poured in a bottle,” Tajudeen said.
When further queried what that was meant for, Tajudeen said: “It’s for power, after grinding it, he would make a mark on the body of anyone who wants power and sprinkle it on it,” Tajudeen said describing how the marks are made.
He pleaded that it was the herbalist who convinced him that there was nothing wrong in what he did. “I left Ibadan when I was 14 years to learn a trade. My mother had no money to send me to secondary school and besides, she got married to another man. I had to survive even when I got to Lagos, that was why I joined a bad group. Am learning to be a carpenter but they are not paying me a kobo, I still have to feed myself. I started living in an uncompleted house, that was where I met these my friends.
They were the ones who introduced me to the Babalawo when we went for prayers,” Tajudeen said
On the role of the others whom he indicted, Tajudeen said that they were all his friends. “They are my friends as we sleep within the same area at Ijanikin. They did not participate but they were aware that Babalawo needs a small boy. Everyone was planning but I was the one who succeeded. It was because I do not want to share the N1000 with them, that was why I took the boy to the Babalawo alone. They all know who Babalawo is. In fact, this small one, Monday is his son,” Tajudeen insisted.
Monday, who was already in tears pleaded with Tajudeen to be sincere and tell the truth. “It is true that I used to hang out with them but my father cannot be that Babalawo. My mother told me that my father ran away and that he is now in Ibadan. Tajudeen is not mentally okay, he takes too much of Indian hemp and it has affected his brain. I only know him where we used to buy hot drinks and smoke Indian hemp. God forbid, I will not kill a small child,” Monday said crying.
The other suspects chorused that Tajudeen is insane.
Meanwhile, father of the deceased, Jamiu Hassan, who was still in shock told Saturday Sun reporter that he never knew that as God was about to bless him with a baby, the devil was at the verge of snatching another. “On Sunday, I was in the Mosque praying when my pregnant wife, Felicia called me that it’s like the baby was ready to come. I told her to start preparing while I look around for money. Part of the preparation was to cook food for the children to eat. Although they refused to eat, she left them with our neighbours and left for the hospital at about 7pm.
My wife called me at about 8pm that she had been delivered of a baby girl; I rushed to the clinic, paid the bill and took her home. It was when we got home at about 8:30pm that I realised that Ibrahim was not in the house or compound. We started searching everywhere for him and could not get him. I consoled my wife to relax that he could be sleeping in someone’s house. It is not a new thing in Ijanikin that children stray away and are later found,” Hassan narrated.
The next day, Hassan intensified efforts to find their lost son till he got the shocking news. “We waited till the next day being a Monday and as early as possible I raced to the Oba’s palace and also checked at the police station and yet he was not there. It was while I was running around that a neighbor told me that they found a child in the forest.
Hoping that it’s not my Ibrahim, I raced to the scene and got the shock of my life. He was not only dead but parts of his body were missing. What did my little Ibrahim do to him to deserve such treatment? He is an apprentice in our area and was always coming around to play with the kids,” Hassan said.
Manhunt for herbalist
Meanwhile, CID detectives have since launched a manhunt for the herbalist who allegedly masterminded the gruesome murder of Ibrahim. The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Awoseni had ordered that the herbalist, who is currently at large, be fished out. Detectives led by Officer in-charge of the Homicide Section, CSP Iyamah Dan have since commenced investigation to ascertain the level of involvement of the other suspects who were indicted by Tajudeen.
The acting state Police Public Relations Officer, Patricia Amaden confirmed the report and the ongoing investigations.
The Sun
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