Ritualists' den discovered beside Ondo state House of Assembly (photo)

- The kidnappers and ritualists scampered after they heard a gunshot from a policeman trying to kill a bird close to the building - The spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the arrest of the suspects and said they would soon be arraigned Just beside the Ondo state House of Assembly is an uncompleted two-storey building that had become the den of kidnappers and ritualist. The building is reportedly located in the Alagbaka area of Akure, the capital of Ondo state. The building behind the popular government-owned events centre, the Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, was reportedly owned by a retired civil servant in the state.The Punch reports that residents discovered the building after suspecting that some men were always inside it performing secret activities every day. The report quoted a resident as saying the owner of the building had remained unknown. The resident said the activities of the kidnappers and ritualists became known after the fled on hearing the sound of gunshot. NAIJ.com learnt that a police officer attached to a building around the area shot at a bird that perched on a tree and the sound rattled the alleged criminals who scampered. “The suspects thought the gunshot was from the policemen who came for them. “They quickly rushed out, but some commercial motorcycle riders in the area helped us to chase and arrest four of them, whom we later handed over to the police,” he said. Some of them were later arrested and almost lynched but for the timely intervention of security agents. The report said items of clothing including women’s underwear, sandals, slippers, cooking utensils, mattresses, toothpaste and toothbrushes were found. A long rope tied to the ceiling was also found inside one of the rooms. The report said the rope is suspected to be used for hanging their victims. The public relations officer of the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo state, Mr Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident adding some of the suspects had been arrested. “We have arrested quite a number of them and we are currently interrogating them. “It is after the interrogation and investigation that we can conclude whether they are ritualists or not,” he said adding that they would be charged to court soon. Following the recent police coordinated efforts against kidnappers in Nigeria, the Abia state government has demolished hideouts used by kidnappers in the state. The demolition took place on Friday, June 23, at Umuerim Nsirimo, Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state.