Three clerics identified as Aliyu Musa, Aliyu Taiye, and Wasiu Babatunde, were arrested for allegedly exhuming the c0rpse of a one-year-old boy, Taiwo Bisiriyu and using it for ritual purposes in Omi-ifon in Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State
The incident which happened last Tuesday, July 9, generated mixed reactions among residents in the area.
According to the state-owned newspaper, The Hope, Taiwo died on Friday, July 5, 2024, and was buried the same day, while the clerics officiated at the burial.
Residents who spoke with the publication alleged that some of the items found in the clerics’ homes, included a pestle and a mortal, concoction, sponge, and black pot, among others.
Narrating her ordeal, the deceased’s guardian identified as Risikat Bisiriyu said: “The boy was ill and I took him to a Maternity Centre for treatment. He was later referred to the General Hospital in Ore. But on getting there, the boy died,”
“I wept bitterly which attracted the attention of residents in the area. Since we are Moslems by religion, we decided to bury the boy the same day, and we invited the clerics to officiate.
“When we got to where the boy would be buried, one of the clerics who carried the corpse went far into the bush to bury him. But the younger brother of the deceased’s father insisted he should bury the child at a particular place, not far inside the bush.
“The child died on Friday. So, on Monday, around 10 am, we were sitting outside the house, when the wife of one of the clerics came and told us that she didn’t know what her husband brought into the house that was smelling. But we paid no attention to what she said
“About 11pm on Monday, we began to hear the cleric pounding some things till 4.30am. I jokingly said only God knows what he was pounding all through the night that disturbed our sleep.“
