By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, Nov. 15, 2025
IBADAN, Nigeria – A Nigerian community is gripped by terror after a market woman was found brutally mutilated in a suspected ritual killing, with her head, breasts, and internal organs savagely removed.
The victim, known locally as Iya Dupe, was last seen on a simple errand to buy bread the previous evening in the Boluwaji area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Her body was discovered the following morning in the Aba Alfa area—a blood-curdling scene that suggests the involvement of black magic or a powerful cult.
Residents who found the remains were immediately consumed by fear, noting the precision with which the vital organs had been cut away.
“She just went to buy bread, and now this,” one tearful local told reporters, describing the victim as a peaceful woman.
The shocking removal of the victim’s head and other organs points directly to the dark practice of ‘juju’ or ‘money ritual’ killings prevalent in parts of West Africa.
Background: The Curse of Ritual Killings
For a UK audience, it’s vital to understand the chilling context. These murders are not random acts of violence but barbaric crimes committed for profit.
In Nigeria and surrounding countries, ritual killers target victims to harvest body parts—including breasts, genitals, eyes, and internal organs—which are then sold to traditional spiritualists or witch doctors.
These parts are used as ingredients in powerful, sinister charms known as “fetishes” or “juju,” believed to bring sudden, enormous wealth, political power, or success to the client who buys them.
The barbaric nature of Iya Dupe’s death suggests the perpetrators were seeking a specific set of organs for a ritual designed to grant their dark wish.
Local police have launched a massive manhunt for the killers, but residents say the hunt is focused on finding the witch doctors who commissioned the heinous crime.
