CITY NEWS Police arrest owner of Iwaya shrine where 4-yr-old girl was used for sacrifice

Detectives from the Lagos police command have arrested the owner of a shrine in Iwaya on the Lagos mainland where a fouryear-old girl was allegedly used as sacrifice in August.

The four-year-old girl was allegedly abducted while on her way to a mosque with her siblings.

Her remains were found at about 8pm on the day she was murdered, with her neck slashed, at an Ogun shrine located at 54, Owodunni Street, Iwaya.

Briefing journalists yesterday on the arrest, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State police command, Edgal Imohimi, explained, “After an extensive investigation on the incident, one Olalekan Olatise, the mastermind of the heinous crime who resides in Ikorodu, was arrested.

He confessed to the crime and also mentioned his sister and one other in connection with the incident. Efforts to arrest two other fleeing suspects are ongoing. They will all be charged to court at the completion of investigation.”

Thirty-five-year-old Alatise admitted to be the custodian of the shrine, but he, however, denied having anything to do with the girl’s murder.

He said, “I do not have a hand in the killing. On the day in question, I was in a Cherubim and Seraphim church where I had gone for prayers because I was sick. It was when I came home to pick some clothes that I was told what happened.

“My father was the custodian of the shrine. After his demise the oracle chose me as the next custodian. At first I refused because I was a Christian. I was forced to accept out of fear because they threatened that I would go mad if I refused.

“I have never done sacrifice on the shrine since I took over. Rather, a man named Kazeem has been doing it. Besides, they do not use human beings to sacrifice to the god of Ogun. They use dogs, goats, cola and bitter cola for the sacrifice all over.

“When the incident happened, I went to Ikorodu to stay. I was initially staying in my mother’s compound where the shrine is before I moved to Ikorodu. I was arrested because I did not show up when the police came.

Asked how it was possible for anyone to access the shrine without his consent, the Ogun State-born suspect said, “Any worshipper could go to the shrine without my knowledge as long as Kazeem who knows how to perform the rites is there.”