'A chief contracted me to kill pregnant woman for ritual' - Suspect

A 28-year-old man from Ikot Otu village in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Edet Asuquo, has confessed to the police at the State Police Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, that a local chief in his community promised to pay him the sum of N50,000 to murder a pregnant woman for ritual purposes.

According to the reports, Asuquo who deals in Oyster, or 'Nkop' in local parlance, a popular seafood delicacy in the Southern part of the country, had murdered one of his customers who used to travel down to his base from neighbouring Cross River State, to patronise him, and later dumped her body near a plantain tree on his premises, with a plan to remove the foetus from her womb later that night.

While parading the suspect, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cordelia Nwawe, said the suspect, having sold the first part of the items to the pregnant woman, told her he had more at home and would sell them to her at a cheaper rate if she followed him to his house.

The woman who apparently had been dealing with Asuquo for long and trusted him, decided to go with him to the house, not knowing that he was luring her to her death.

After killing the woman, Asuquo, together with four others who are now at large, hid the body and covered it with plantain leaves waiting for nightfall so as to carry out the concluding part of the job but they were seen by his sister who reported the incident to an older brother who secretly reported to the police.

“The suspect and those at large were contracted by a village leader for N50,000, to kill a pregnant woman and remove the woman’s head and the foetus for ritual purpose.

Luck, however, ran out on them as Asuquo’s sister reported the matter to their elder brother, who invited the police.

The pregnant mother had gone to the market to buy oysters from Asuquo. The man lured her to his house to buy more oysters. The unsuspecting pregnant woman was murdered there.”

Confessing to the hideous crime, Asuquo, said the contract to kill a pregnant woman and remove her head and foetus was given to him and his colleagues by a local chief who promised them the sum of N250,000, out of which he was to get N50,000.

“We are five that were asked to kill a pregnant woman so that her head and her unborn child would be removed and used for a charm in order that a new council chairman would not be appointed. A chief in my village gave us the contract.

He told us that after we have carried out the job, he will give each one of us N50,000. He did not give us any advance payment. After we had done the job, my sister reported the matter to my elder brother, who in turn called the police.”

The PPRO said the suspect would soon be charged to court while investigations will continue into the whereabouts of the other suspects.