Photo: Man confesses to killing pregnant woman for rituals in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 28-year old man, Edet Asuquo, from Ikot Otu in the Itu Local Government Area for allegedly murdering a pregnant woman.

The deceased, who came from Cross River State and whose identity is unknown, was said to be a customer to Asuquo who deals in oysters.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Cordelia Nwawe, said on Wednesday that the suspect, having sold the first part of his seafood to the pregnant woman, lured her to his home claiming that he had abundance of oysters at a cheaper rate.

According to her, on Monday, January 11, the woman had innocently followed Asuquo to his home, where she was killed and her corpse hidden near a plantain tree on the premises.
The police said the suspect and four others at large wanted to remove the foetus from the woman’s wombs at night.

She said, “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.”

Asuquo, confessed to the crime, saying a leader in his village gave a job to him and his friends to kill a pregnant woman for N250,000 so that he could use the foetus for sacrifice.

He said, “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 ritual purpose.

“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.”