Tragedy struck in the Ovom community of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday as a six-year-old Muslim boy was gruesomely murdered, allegedly by a suspected ritualist identified as Bobby. The horrifying act has sparked outrage across the state, particularly within the Hausa and Muslim communities, with widespread calls for justice and transparency amid fears of an attempted cover-up.
The suspect, a known resident of the area, was apprehended around 8 p.m. while reportedly trying to flee with the mutilated remains of the child concealed in a sack bag. Eyewitnesses said the scene at the Aritalin area was chaotic, as members of the local Hausa community attempted to lynch the suspect. However, swift intervention by Muslim elders prevented mob justice, leading to Bobby being handed over to the police.
The victim, who had traveled to Yenagoa to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival, was reportedly lured and killed in what residents and advocacy groups fear may be a ritual-related crime. The brutal nature of the killing has left the community shaken, and calls for immediate and thorough investigation have grown louder.
The family of the deceased, in a meeting with visiting representatives from the National Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence (AWAGBV) and the Bayelsa chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), expressed deep pain over their loss. Despite their grief and anger, they pledged to pursue justice through lawful means.
Chairperson of FOMWAN Bayelsa, Hajia Aisha Abeki, expressed profound sorrow over the murder and urged the Bayelsa State Police Command to ensure swift and uncompromised justice. “We are heartbroken and demand that the law takes its full course. This boy came here to celebrate the Sallah, but his life was tragically cut short,” she stated.
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Echoing the call for justice, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, National President of AWAGBV, condemned the act in the strongest terms. She called on all relevant agencies to collaborate and ensure the suspect is prosecuted without delay. “This is not just a crime against one family, but against our collective humanity. We will not rest until justice is served,” she said.
Also weighing in, the Chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Bayelsa, Dr. Boma Tonye Miebai, confirmed alongside other advocates that the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, has assured them that the case is being handled with urgency. According to her, the suspect has already been taken into custody, and investigations are underway.
As community leaders, women’s rights groups, and legal advocates continue to demand accountability, pressure mounts on law enforcement authorities to ensure that the case is not swept under the rug. The brutal killing of an innocent child has become a rallying cry for justice, security, and an end to ritual killings in Bayelsa and beyond.
