The Borno State Police Command said it arrested a nine-man gang of serial ritualists known as “Karangiya” who specialised in dismembering their victims’ body parts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, who disclosed this to journalists on Friday, said they were arrested on December 16, 2022, by men of the command.
He said that the suspects murdered unknown persons and dismembered their remains, noting that the last incident was recorded where a victim’s eyes were removed around the Post Office area.
He added, “There was another case where a woman was killed and thrown into the river and her body parts were removed.’’
Umar further said that after visiting the scene, detectives embarked on an intelligence investigation to find those behind the act.
He said, “At about 1945hrs, one Mohammed Bukar, 18-year-old from Shuwari area in Maiduguri, reported at Jere Division that on December 16, 2022, he along with his friend went to collect his phone from where he was charging it.
“He said that they sighted a group of youths who called themselves members of ‘Karangiya group,’ armed with sticks and cutlasses coming towards their direction. On reaching them, he said members of the group started beating him while his friend ran away.
“He said that in the process, one of the armed men, Ali Bukar, used a long knife and attempted to cut his head but he used his left hand to shield his head. Again, the suspect lifted a cutlass and cut off the victim’s hand and fled, leaving him in a pool of blood.’’ he said.
The CP added that the police swiftly stormed the scene and arrested the principal suspect and eight others for investigation and subsequent prosecution. Umar said that the suspects would be charged to court.
