The Borno State Police Command announced the arrest of a nine-man gang of serial ritualists known as “Karangiya” who specialized in dismembering their victims’ body parts.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, this was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, who disclosed this to journalists on Friday, on Friday.
He stated that the suspects murdered unknown individuals and mutilated their remains, saying that the most recent incidence was documented in which a victim’s eyes were removed near 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 went on to say that after examining the area, investigators launched an intelligence probe to uncover those responsible.
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.
According to the CP, officers raided the scene and arrested the main suspect as well as eight others for inquiry and subsequent prosecution. The accused, according to Umar, will be charged in court.
