Murdered Ibeshe family of three gets mass burial

• Residents protest against frequent killings by alleged ritualists

Barely a week after a family of three were wiped out by suspected ritualists at the Ibeshe area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, they were yesterday given a mass burial by their family members.

The trio, Lucky Ebohdaghe, the father; his wife, Margaret and only child, Jonathan, who were brutally murdered at their residence last Tues, were yesterday buried at their Oyekanmi Street home.

The murderers, who gained access into the home through the window, were said to have smashed the deceased’s heads with big stones after raping Margaret. Confirming the incident, the spokesman for Lagos police command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the Ibeshe Division had received a phone call from one Funso Akintimeyin that three bodies were found in the apartment.

However, the trio was buried yesterday amidst tears, after which the angry crowd marched to the traditional ruler’s house to register their grievances about the incessant ritual murders in the town.

A security expert in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the latest incident was just one in a series of ritual cases that had besieged Ibeshe since 2015.

“The latest victims were the family of three, who were found dead on Tuesday morning, when the school bus came for the child, who was to write an examination that day.

“The house was secluded and surrounded by big cassava and bitter leaf plants, especially towards the church building, which might have made neighbours not to hear their screams.

“Since 2015, we have been battling with ritual killings targeted at women of all ages. This has been going on for sometime without abating. The practice is to rape a woman in her house and thereafter use stone to smash her head to pieces until the brain gushes out.

“Another method is to strangle the victim. Although I am a private security expert, the police have been unable to tame the tide, which happens regularly every three months.”