Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Umar Manko, on Monday, paraded a 64-year-old herbalist who allegedly killed a retired customs officer and her 10-year-old daughter by burying them alive.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suspect, one Alhaji Olatunji Azeez was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on Thursday in Ajuwon-Akute area of Ogun State.
The suspect was alleged to have killed Mrs Angela Uzo Kerry and her daughter, Obiajurum.
Manko said the suspect was arrested through the victim’s vehicle tracking device when her car was traced to a dealer.
He, however, said the dealer led the police to the suspect.
The police boss added that the suspect allegedly hypnotised the victim after collecting money and property estimated to be over N200m.
Manko also alleged that the suspect killed the victims to cover up the crime.
Manko said, “The woman gave the suspect some millions of naira to make her pregnant.
“When she discovered the whole issue was fraud, she demanded for her money.
“In an attempt for the suspect to cart away the money, he allegedly dug a deep well inside his house and placed a mat over it.
“When the woman and her daughter called on him for the collection of the money, he requested them to seat on the mat.
“As they sat and fell into the well, the suspect covered them up with sand and cemented the place.
“After his arrest, he led the police to the site where the mother and daughter were buried alive.
“The place was dug up and we recovered the bodies of the victims, currently deposited at Yaba Mainland Hospital for autopsy.
“We have concluded our investigation; the suspect will be charged to court for murder this week.
“This is to sound a warning to people who are interested in crime not to come to Lagos, they will be arrested”.
NAN, however, reports that the suspect allegedly claimed to have collected N9m out of N10m he charged the victim.
The suspect claimed the victim angered him for demanding for a refund after nine months of the payment.
The suspected said, “Why should the woman come and demand for her money.
“I learnt she had paid more than N40m to some pastors and spiritualists, why can’t she go and collect the money from them.
“I decided to kill her because she threatened me as a customs officer. I decided to be faster than her”.