Soldiers have arrested a suspected ritual killer while attempting to sacrifice a nine-year-old girl in Rivers community.
The incident happened in Ibaa community, in the Emuoha Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the suspect was arrested after the girl’s parents raised the alarm over her sudden disappearance after she went to dispose of refuse in a nearby bush.
According to Punch, a source from Ibaa community said the suspect took the minor to an abandoned compound and was in the process of performing the ritual when he ran out of luck.
The source explained that the suspect, identified simply as Achor, tied the girl with white cloths, applied white clay on her body, while a coffin was already stationed for the ritual purpose when he was caught.
Soldiers, who had been combing the community for the girl following the report of her disappearance, reportedly swooped on the suspect and took him into custody.
He was later handed over to the police in Rumuji.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, had ordered that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.
