Driver Murdered For Ritual

Homicide detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, have arrested a bar operator in Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos and a policeman in connection with the murder of a 25-year old driver, Muritala Bolaji Jimoh Logun.

His body was found with some vital parts missing, fuelling speculations that he may have been killed for ritual.

P.M.NEWS investigation revealed that Muritala in company of his boss, Mr. Babatunde Balogun went to a popular bar in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria at about 11 p.m. to celebrate after the recent match between Real Madrid FC and Barcelona FC.

It was learnt that Muritala left the bar while his boss, Balogun was still there. The bar owner alleged that the driver attempted to rape one of the girls at the bar.

His boss, Balogun called him, confronted him with the allegation and ordered him to return to the bar but the driver denied it. He explained that the girl was inside the car with him. Balogun’s brother in-law Abayomi was also inside the car with them. When Balogun called him to ascertain where they were, the driver said he could not return to the bar because there was no fuel in the car.

It was learnt that the bar owner, his police guard and another man in a Prado SUV went after the driver. They reportedly met him at the spot where his car ran out of fuel.

The bar owner, the man in Prado SUV with the policeman allegedly abducted Muritala and moved him to an unknown destination.

The following day when Balogun did not see his driver, he called the bar owner who denied any knowledge of Muritala’s whereabouts. He claimed he did not see him on the previous night when he trailed him.

Balogun and relatives began a search for Muritala. About 10 days later, his decomposed body with some vital parts removed was seen inside a bush along Epe-Lagos expressway.

Policemen at Ajah Police Division where the matter was reported arrested the bar owner and his police guard. The matter was later transferred to SCID, Panti for further investigation.

Balogun claimed that he suspected his driver might have been murdered for ritual purpose.

The property developer based at Elemoro Village near Ajah, said when he saw the decomposed corpse of Muritala at Isolo General Hospital mortuary, the eyes, tongue and some vital parts were missing.

Meanwhile, Balogun has sent a petition to the Director, Office of Public Defender, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Surulere, pleading that the murder should not be swept under the carpet.

He said when the search for his driver began, he asked the bar owner to produce the man in Prado SUV who went in his company to where Muritala was abducted.

A police source at Panti confirmed to P.M.NEWS on phone that the police are investigating the matter.

—Ayodeji Dedeigbo