A trainee herbalist, Ifagbenga Taiwo, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly killing his 41-day-old son in the Keesi area of Adatan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Taiwo claims he was under the influence of a spell when he committed the act.
The tragic incident occurred last Monday while the baby’s mother, Raimat Wasilat, was outside washing clothes. According to reports, Wasilat had left the baby on a bed indoors. Upon returning, she found her son with his throat slit. Her cries for help drew the attention of neighbors and the police.
Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, stated that Wasilat had identified her husband as the perpetrator. This led to Taiwo’s arrest and an ongoing investigation.
In an interrogation video obtained by reporters, Taiwo detailed how he used a knife to slit his son’s throat but claimed he was not in control of his actions at the time. He described feeling a sudden compulsion to commit a crime, which he attributed to a supernatural influence.
Speaking in Yoruba, Taiwo explained, “On the day of the incident, I gave my wife some money for food before leaving for my apprenticeship. Later, I realized I had forgotten some protective charms at home, so I went back to retrieve them. After I returned to work, I felt an uneasiness, as if something was compelling me to do something terrible.”
Taiwo recounted that when he arrived home, he did not see his wife outside. Acting on the strange compulsion, he went inside, picked up a knife, and attacked his son. “I don’t remember much after that. When I came to my senses, I saw what I had done and fled through the back door,” he said.
The suspect denied accusations that the act was premeditated or motivated by a desire to separate from his wife. “I love my wife, and I had no intention of divorcing her. I don’t know how it happened. It felt like I wasn’t in control of myself,” Taiwo said.
He expressed remorse and appealed to the government for mercy. “I fled because I didn’t know what to do. I am deeply sorry for my actions,” he said.
The police investigation into the incident is ongoing, as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
