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Tag: herbalist

  • I use human parts to prepare charms, says suspect 

    I use human parts to prepare charms, says suspect 

    A 52-year-old herbalist allegedly found with human head was Friday paraded by the Lagos State Police Command.

    Tosenu Lussien, who was arrested at Shagamu in Ogun State for trading in human parts, told reporters that he used it to prepare charms for his clients.

    Lussien said he has been in the business for over five years, claimed that he picked the human skull in a forest where he worked as a guard.

    He said: “This is the first time I am dealing with human parts. I found the skull five years ago in a forest at Oko-Ode and I kept it for future purpose. It was fresh when I saw it.

    “I am an herbalist and I have been assisting people in different ways. This is the first time I will be dealing with human part. It was one of my in-laws that requested that I should help him get human head. He said he wanted to use it for business ritual and I promised to do something about it.

    “Immediately I brought the skull home, I called my in-law on phone to come and see it and he gave N80,000 to prepare the charm for him. He promised to come for the charm but policemen came to arrest me.

    “After he gave me the money, I received a call from someone that said he needed human part and I asked the person to pay N150,000. I did not know they were policemen until they came into my apartment and recovered the human skull.

    “I believe it was my in-law that sold me to the police. I was only trying to assist him when he came to me that his car business was not moving very well. That was why I decided to assist him with the charm that will boost his business.”

    Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Danladi Galandachi said the suspect usually charged N1m for fresh human part and between N200,000 to N150,000 for dried ones.

     

  • Man apprehended with fresh human head, other parts in Osun

    Man apprehended with fresh human head, other parts in Osun

    A 38 year old man, Rasheed Ajibade has been arrested by Osun State police command for being in possession of a fresh head of an unidentified woman.

    Other parts of the woman found on him include her virgina, liver and intestine, two palms, lungs and blood.

    Parading the man with the fresh human head dripping blood at the state Police headquarters, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, said policemen on surveillance arrested the suspect at Oluode market, in Osogbo.

    He said:  “He was bringing the fresh human head and other vital organs of his victim from Aagba, a community in Boripe local government area of Osun State. We want to establish the identity of the victim and get to know where and how the victim was killed.”

    The Police boss, who assured that his men would get to the root of the dastardly act, said an accomplice to the suspect, who was in the vehicle, in which the human head was found escaped and efforts were ongoing to arrest him.

    According to him, the fresh human head and other vital organs, severed from the body of the unidentified woman were found in one red colour Isuzu Rodeo Jeep, marked LSD 987 DJ after the suspect was arrested by the police.

    Speaking to journalists, the suspect, Rasheed Ajibade, a native of Ikirun said: “I am an Alfa and herbalist. Somebody, who is known as Olorungbede came to me and said he wanted to do money ritual. I told him the materials for the job, which include fresh human head, private part of a woman and others and he said he would get it by himself.”

    Ajibade, who said he was observing fasting, explained that “the man brought the fresh human head to me today. My plan was to keep the head and other parts in my place till the end of Ramadan fasting before using it for the money ritual.”

    Speaking further, the suspect said the vehicle in which the fresh human head and other parts were found belonged to his brother, adding that “I did not kill the woman. It was that man that brought the human head and other parts to me.”

     

  • Herbalist, client die in ‘money ritual’ bid

    A SIXTY-year-old herbalist, Kareemu Okeyode and his client, Oladele Bakare (51), died yesterday afternoon, allegedly “conducting rigorous rituals and incantations to conjure up money”.

    The Nation learnt that Okeyode entered his “sacred room” with Bakare in the morning after he had prepared many fetish objects, including an incense powder, for the ritual.

    Neighbours were later concerned that no sound of prayer or incantation was coming from the “sacred room”.

    When they knocked on the door in the afrternoon, they did not receive any response.

    The development compelled them to force the door open.

    They were shocked to discover the bodies of Okeyode and Bakare.

    They alerted the police about the discovery.

    Acting police spokesman  Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, told The Nation that the two men were pulled out of the room naked.

    Oyeyemi said the two men locked themselves up in the “sacred room” during the ritual and that “it was very likely that they died of suffocation in the room suffused with smoke of burning incense”.

  • Police arrest herbalist, others for killing 16-year-old girl

    Police arrest herbalist, others for killing 16-year-old girl

    •Two fresh human hearts, life tortoise recovered

    A herbalist, Tunde Banjo and a Muslim cleric, Nurudeen Adeniyi, have been arrested by the Police in Ijebu-Igbo, the Headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, for allegedly killing a 16-year-old girl identified as Olayinka.

    Also arrested is 19-year-old Tobi Ogunkoya, who is suspected to have lured Olayinka into the hands of Banjo and Adeniyi.

    They were arrested by policemen from Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo yesterday, following frantic search for Olayinka’s whereabouts.

    Acting Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi told The Nation at 2.30p.m. that Serifat Adebanjo reported the abduction of Olayinka to the Police Station in Ago-Iwoye.

    She mentioned Ogunkoya as the suspect in the abduction.

    Oyeyemi added that acting on the information, policemen stormed a house behind Baale house in Imosan community and apprehended Ogunkoya, who confessed that Olayinka was in the custody of Banjo in Ijebu-Igbo.

    According to the police spokesman, Tobi took the police to the home of Banjo in Ijebu-Igbo, where security agents met him and Adeniyi.

    They were arrested; and two fresh human hearts and a life tortoise were recovered from them.

    Oyeyemi said Banjo confessed to the police that the girl had since been killed, her breasts and other vital organs harvested.

    He added that her body was thrown into Ogbere river, Ogun State.

  • Herbalist robs patient’s septuagenarian mum

    Herbalist robs patient’s septuagenarian mum

    A Herbalist simply identified as Demola on Friday night led a two-man gang to rob a 76-year-old mother of his patient.

    Demola and his accomplice, Segun Taiwo, dispossessed the woman of her valuables on Oduduwa Street, Itire, Lagos mainland.

    The duo collected $10,000, £5,000, N100,000 and a box containing jewelleries from their victim around 8pm.

    On their way out, they saw a patrol team of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and fled but the operatives chased them and arrested Taiwo with the jewelleries. Demola escaped.

    Taiwo told the RRS that he was only invited into the robbery by the herbalist, who promised to give him 50 percent from the loot.

    Explaining how they got a clue before carrying out the operation, he said: “The mastermind is aherbalist. He was treating one of the woman’s daughter (name withheld) who had sore in her right foot. Whenever the lady visited him for treatment, he was always stylishly collecting information about her mother from her. Unknowingly to the lady, he had collected all necessary descriptions and information needed to perpetuate the robbery.

    “After a while, he told me that we have a special operation. He further told me that his patient (the woman’s daughter) must not be aware because we were going to their house to rob her mother.

    “We carried out the robbery successfully. We gained entrance into the two-storey building and headed straight to the old woman’s flat. From our preliminary investigation, we got to know that the first flat opposite the entrance gate was theirs. We went straight inside the flat without any stress.

    “We met the woman while sitting on the prayer’s mat inside the living room.  We dragged and threatened her with cutlass and axe to surrender all her belongings including foreign currencies with her or else we will waste her life.”

    The suspected robber said that the old woman cooperated with them and handed over a bag filled with both local and foreign currencies.

    “We also forcefully collected her gold jewellery box. However, on our way out, we heard the woman crying and shouting for help. Unknowingly to us, RRS operatives who were patrolling the area have overheard her voice. As we were rushing out to escape from the house, the operatives sighted us and we took to our heels. Immediately, the policemen chased us which led to my arrest and my accomplice managed to escape with the local and foreign currencies while the jewellery box was retrieved from me,” he was quoted as saying.

    The suspect also disclosed that they had before now, robbed one man on Okota Road of his N200, 000, saying: “my gang leader is a powerful herbalist. He knows when you have money on you. The first day I followed him to rob was a day when we went to Okota Road. On getting there, he saw one man on the road and he pointed at the man and told me the man had money on him.

    “We moved closer to the man and he recited some incantations, and to my surprise, that man handed over his money about N200,000, to us. Out of that money, he gave me just N11, 000”, he claimed.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent (SP) said the command was on the trail of the gang leader, informing that the suspect has been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.

  • Herbalist arrested over alleged murder of septuagenarian

    Herbalist arrested over alleged murder of septuagenarian

    A 51-year old herbalist, whose identity has not been revealed, has been arrested by men of the Edo State Police Command over the murder of a 75-year old woman, Mrs. Betsy Egbeobamwonyi.

    Betsy was gruesomely murdered at her apartment as she was severally stabbed and her throat sliced.

    She was lying on the bed beside her four years old grandson when she was killed.

    Acting Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command, SP Stephen Onwochei who confirmed the incident  said the police acted on intelligence reports.

    Onwochei appealed to the deceased immediate family and members of the public to provide useful information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

    It will be recalled that the incident occurred at Oseye Street, Off Okunwague Street, Off Upper Sokponba Road, Ikpoba-Okha local government.

  • Monarch threatens to banish herbalist over client’s death

    Monarch threatens to banish herbalist over client’s death

    The traditional ruler of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, has threatened to banish a controversial herbalist from the town for his alleged complicity in the death of one of his clients, Miss Busayo Ojo.

    The Nation exclusively reported on April 30, 2016, how the popular herbalist called Alado allegedly prompted the late Busayo to sleep with her father, Clement, when they came for treatment in his ‘clinic’.

    Busayo, 35, believed to be under the spell of a “spirit husband” was taken to Alado by her father, Clement , sometime in May, 2015.

    They left their home town in Ogbagi Akoko to see Alado for treatment during which Alado allegedly forced them into the abominable act.

    Busayo was said to have mysteriously fallen ill afterwards, leading to her death on April 17, 2016.

    She however revealed what transpired during the visit to the herbalist before she died.

    Apparently embarrassed by the alleged excesses of the herbalist and the negative light it has painted the community, Oba Alabi, gave the witch doctor “the last warning”.

    Alado reportedly drew the ire of the Ilawe traditional cabinet, the Alawe-in-Council, who took turns to lampoon him for allegedly extorting innocent people in the name of helping them to find solutions to their problems.

    These were said to be some of the issues that transpired on Tuesday at a meeting held by the Alawe, his chiefs and a delegation of chiefs from Ogbagi Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The death of Busayo had sparked tension in Ogbagi with the chiefs of the town spoiling for war with the Ekiti-based herbalist.

    Leaders in Ogbagi community alleged that Alado, who runs a radio show to promote his business, ordered Busayo’s father to have sex with her after giving them some fetish objects.

    The father of the deceased lady also allegedly confessed to Ogbagi chiefs that the herbalist ordered him to caress her daughter’s private part and suck her breasts to ward off the spirit husband.

    The herbalist however denied knowing the late Busayo and her father.

    But Clement had maintained that he is in possession of the herbalist’s consultation card issued during their visit.

    Ogbagi chiefs have since thrown a challenge to Alado to come over to their community and swear to a traditional oath to prove his innocence.

    In a telephone conversation with The Nation on Thursday, one of the senior chiefs in Ogbagi community, High Chief Oshodi, said concerned community leaders in the town paid a visit to the traditional ruler of Ilawe and his chiefs on the matter.

    He explained that the Owa of Ogbagi, Oba Victor Olasehinde Adetona, could not make the trip.

    Oshodi disclosed that another meeting, which the Owa of Ogbagi would attend, would be held soon.

    Those in the delegation from Ogbagi to Ilawe include himself (High Chief Oshodi), High Chief Arua, Chief Eli, Chief Asoje, Chief Bobatolu and Busayo’s father.

    He said: “We (Ogbagi chiefs) went to Ilawe on Tuesday where we met with the Alawe of Ilawe and the Alawe-in-Council and they all expressed concern with what Amusa Baba Alado has been doing.

    “In fact, the chiefs lambasted him and dressed him down for all the alleged atrocities he has been committing by extorting money from people and asking them to do unseemly things.

    “The Ilawe chiefs said many people had been reporting him on the sums he had allegedly collected from them; people he collected huge sums of money from all in the name of helping them find solutions to their problems.

    “In fact, the Alawe of Ilawe told Alado pointblank that the latest incident involving Clement and his daughter, Busayo, should be the last time he (Alado) should be involved in such a scandal.

    “Kabiyesi Alawe told Alado that if he is involved in another act again that could bring the name of the town into disrepute, he would be banished from the town.

    “Now that we the chiefs from Ogbagi have gone to the Alawe, he (the Alawe) and our own king (the Owa) will now meet as soon as our Kabiyesi returns from his trip.”

    Oshodi told our reporter that Alado initially denied knowing the victim and his father but later admitted knowing them when the herbalist was confronted with evidence.

    He said: “Before Alado confessed, he first denied knowing the victim and his father. In fact, we heard when we got to Ekiti that he had been severally warned by his colleagues over some things people have been saying about him.

    “When he initially denied, the CD of a broadcaster that exposed him on air, was played to him (Alado) and he knew the game was up.”

    When asked what will happen if Alado refuses to come to Ogbagi as demanded by the chiefs of the town, Oshodi said: “There are traditional rituals to be carried out if he fails to come and the whole world will see the effect.”

  • Ondo community spoils for war with popular Ekiti herbalist for allegedly forcing man to sleep with daughter

    Ondo community spoils for war with popular Ekiti herbalist for allegedly forcing man to sleep with daughter

    A famous herbalist in a popular Ekiti town (names withheld) , has been accused of allegedly forcing one of his customers, one Clement, to make love to his daughter in a bid to exorcise ‘evil spirit’ from her body.

    Clement was said to have taken his 35-year-daughter Busayo, to the herbalist some time in May last year, for the purpose of casting out the evil spirit.

    It was learnt that Clement left his hometown, Ogbagi Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, with his daughter to see the herbalist at the Ekiti town.

    The death of Busayo on April 17, 2016, has sparked tension in Ogbagi with the chiefs of the town spoiling for war with the Ekiti-based herbalist.

    Community leaders in Ogbagi alleged that the herbalist, who runs a radio programme to promote his work, ordered Clement to have an illicit sex with his daughter after giving them some fetish objects.

    Clement, allegedly confessed to the Ogbagi chiefs that herbalist ordered him to caress his daughter’s private part and suck her breast to ward off spirit husband.

    Although the herbalist denied knowing Clement, the latter, however, maintained that he is in possession of a consultation card issued to him by the herbalist.

    To prove his innocence, Ogbagi chiefs has challenged the herbalist to come over to their community and swear to a traditional oath.

    One of the traditional chiefs of Ogbagi, who identified himself simply as Chief Oshodi, described the incident as an abomination that has terrible consequences in their community.

    He said: “Clement and his daughter Busayo are both from our town, Ogbagi-Akoko. He fathered Busayo when he was very young and later separated with her mother, so they have not been living together for a long time now. However, because a child had cemented their relationship, Clement still related with his daughter and her mother in spite of the separation.

    “When on April 17, 2016, Busayo who had been sick in a strange way, suddenly died under strange circumstances, some family members cried out, alleging that he must have been the cause of his daughter’s sudden death.

    “He was also putting up very strange behaviour. It was gathered that shortly before Busayo passed on, she confessed to her mother that a strange thing had happened between her and her father when they visited the herbalist at the Ekiti town.

    “She said that her father had asked her to follow him to the herbalist’s place and described the herbalist’s place at the Ekiti town, as one built on a small hill and painted red. She said they met an elderly man at the gate of the building who directed them to the herbalist’s secretary.

    “Busayo said further that on getting to the building, a lady asked them to pay a sum of N1,000 as consultation fee, which they did before they were allowed to see the herbalist. She added that there were expensive vehicles, including a limousine and Hummer jeep, inside the premises.

    “The young lady added that the herbalist turned out to be the same old man they had met at the gate who had directed them to his secretary. She said when her father explained to him the motive for their visit, he told him to pay a sum of N135,000 for a permanent cure to his ailment as many fetish materials would be procured for the treatment.

    “Busayo said that they pleaded with the herbalist to reduce the fee as they had only N15,000 on them and could only part with N10,000 because they would need the remaining N5,000 for transport back home.

    “After much persuasion, Busayo said the herbalist accepted and gave some concoction to Clement and asked him to ‘forcibly’ vomit something by opening his mouth three times. She said after this, her father vomited a strange object, which the herbalist showed, her saying that it was part of the evil deposits that caused Busayo’s illness.

    “Having done that, Busayo said the herbalist took his father into a room for a while. She said it was then she took a quick glance round the fetish room where the herbalist hosted them and saw fetish objects that made the room look like a dumpsite.

    “She said there were calendars showing pictures of some prominent pastors of some popular churches in the country; another calendar displaying a caricature of Jesus Christ and some other religious materials belonging to both Christians and Moslems.

    “Busayo alleged further that when the herbalist returned to the room with her father, he told her that she was afflicted with a spiritual problem which he identified as spirit husband. The girl said she believed what the herbalist said because a certain cleric had earlier told her the same thing, adding that with such problem, she wouldn’t have progress in life.

    “According to Busayo, the herbalist told them that her problem would be solved only if her father gets intimate with her by caressing her private part and sucking her breast, an act the herbalist allegedly commanded that they start doing immediately.

    “She said that at first, they refused to do such thing decrying that it was an abomination, but the herbalist insisted that it was what must be done so that Busayo’s problem would be solved once and for all. He also wanted them to start doing it right there.

    “The young woman said she had to reluctantly accept and her father did to her as instructed by the herbalist. She added that the herbalist told them to repeat the act again around midnight.”

    According to Chief Oshodi, Busayo alleged that she noticed that since she had carried out the herbalist’s instruction with her father, her health condition had been depreciating. She soon became critically ill and was emaciating. Her once robust and youthful body turned lean and scary.

    Chief Oshodi added that the young woman couldn’t make the confessions until her condition worsened to that critical stage because of the custom in the community, which places an open disgrace on anyone who commits such abomination.

    Oshodi describes the punishment: “The culprit would be paraded round the town, while many would sing shameful songs against him or her”, adding that Busayo’s condition worsened until her death on April 17.

    “It was this confession that angered members of the community and made them to apprehend her father and forced him to confess also. After he was paraded round the town as it is our custom, Clement confessed and corroborated what his late daughter had said. That is why we are telling the whole world about this development now, “Chief Oshodi said.

    When reporters called the herbalist on phone and asked for his reactions to the allegations, he said: “I don’t know those people. They were never my clients. In fact, if you come to check the records of my visitors which I take daily, you won’t find their names there because they were never here. “the herbalist later told reporters to speak to a man he identified as his lawyer whom he handed over the phone. But on requesting for the identity of the man, he turned out to be a freelance radio journalist (names withheld) in Ekiti. In what appeared like covering up for the herbalist, the freelance broadcaster replied that the allegations by the Ogbagi-Akoko council of chiefs against the herbalist were untrue.  When asked while he was defending the herbalist since he was not his lawyer, the freelance broadcaster said he was entitled to his own opinion about the herbalist and maintained that all that has been alleged against the herbalist was false.

    Reacting to the herbalist’s denial of the allegations, Chief Oshodi said: “They say the herbalist said he doesn’t know Clement and Busayo , that the two of them never came to his house for help, in spite of the girl (Busayo)’s vivid description of his house and sacred rooms?

    “Anyway, we will only accept it if he (the herbalist) can come to our palace and for oath-taking to clear himself of the allegations. Let me tell you, no matter how powerful he is as an herbalist, if what both Busayo and Clement said about him is true and he comes here to take the oath, he would not survive it in seven days.

    “We are not arguing with him, if truly he is a herbalist with clean hands, let him come to our king’s palace for the oath, he would simply put his head against the royal seat of our traditional monarch, then we will know who is telling lies or the truth in just seven days.”

    The Nation learnt that the matter was not reported to the police because the community leaders in Ogbagi Akoko prefer to use traditional method to adjudicate on the matter.

  • Herbalist ‘dupes’ businesswoman of N7.5m

    •Victim also ‘raped’

    THE police have arrested a 45-year-old herbalist, Ifatade Ademola, for allegedly raping a businesswoman and duping her of N7.5 million.

    The suspect was arrested after his victim, who claimed she was hypnotised, raped and defrauded of N7.5 million between 2011 and 2014, reported the matter to the police.

    He was said to have used the money to build two bungalows in Lagos and Ado Ekiti. He also bought two vehicles. The vehicles have been seized by the police.

    According to the 31-year-old victim, the suspect told her she was being hunted by spirit husband and needed spiritual cleansing so that she can get married.

    The suspect was said to have posed as a cab driver and taken the victim’s mother, an international businesswoman, from Iyana Ipaja bus stop to their residence.

    In his discussions with the woman, he was said to have advertised his other businesses which include supplying domestic workers and spiritual cleansing.

    According to the victim, Ademola wormed himself into her mother’s heart after telling the old woman that all her children have been programmed to die untimely, using one of her late children as an example.

    The victim claimed that when the suspect saw that the charm he used on her was no longer working, he conspired with two other men to rape her in his shrine.

    She alleged that she became traumatised and psychologically unstable for about a year, adding that she decided to fight for justice after being treated by her family.

    “I am a young woman and into oil and gas business. This issue started after the suspect carried my mother one night at Iyana Ipaja and brought her home.

    “In the course of their discussion, he told my mother that he was an herbalist and has his shrine around Olode in Iyana Ipaja. He also told my mother that he can supply sales rep from Ekiti State, since the Cotonou people she usually employed have gone.

    “That was how they exchanged numbers and before long, he started telling my mother some very private things in my family and that all her children will die untimely if nothing was done. He told her that through spiritual findings, he saw that she lost her first child at the age of 33.

    “He also told her that day that I was having spirit husband problem and that it needed to be taken care of urgently.

    “My mother was afraid and told me of it. He now gave us the address and description of the shrine. My mother insisted that I should escort her to the place because she did not want to go alone.

    “He started spiritual consultation and again, he started saying things about me and my business and that people were after my life. He said that spiritual husband was the reason why I was not yet married.

    “The man said I will need to go and bath in a stream at Command Road Ipaja, beside a white garment church. That once I do that, the spirit husband will leave me alone.

    “I went there and paid N100. He was already there with some other people. He gave me three sponges to use and bath.

    “I used the first and second one nothing happened. But when I was about using the third one, it sparked fire. After the fire, I heard a woman’s voice calling my name and telling me things about my life and how some people were after me.

    “I screamed and ran out naked, then he came and calmed me down and that day, they told me to deposit N500,000 for the cleansing. Between March and June 2011, he has collected N1.8million from me.

    “They told me to not tell anyone, not even my mother what was going on, or I will die. Then, I travelled and when I came back, they continued to collect money from me until I started asking questions, then him and two others raped me at the shrine.

    “I was under a spell. He is an occultic man and he uses charm on people. I became mentally unstable for almost one year, it was after I recovered that I said I must fight for my right,” he said.

    However, the suspect denied collecting any money from the victim, insisting that he only assisted her in spiritual work.

    He claimed that the victim approached him to help her get a husband, adding that being a herbalist who treats all kinds of diseases and problems, he decided to assist her.

    The command’s spokesperson, Oladapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the police swung into action after the victim petitioned the commissioner.

    She said investigations were still on to arrest the others, warning Lagosians to be wary of those they associate with.

    Badmus said the suspect was not a registered cab driver, adding that he would be charged to court after investigation.

     

  • ‘A herbalist impregnated my wife… now my life is ruined!’ (2)

    THE day she returned from the village was the day that our lives changed. We had long hours of discussion in order to catch up with all that took place within the period we were apart. That night I hoped that our love making would bring forth a child which we have so longed for, however I did not really believe that the herbalist’s incantation and concoction would get my wife pregnant because only God gives children and not man. It was when I was about to get intimate with my wife that I notice that something had gone wrong. I withdrew from her immediately and asked her:

    “What type of treatment did you receive from the herbalist?” I asked while rolled off her. I was attached to my wife both body and soul. Some people even suspect that I used charm or something of the likes on my wife.

    “How do you mean?” she asked and tried to pull me back.

    “I just want to know,” I said.

    “Is that why you are moving away from me?” she queried.

    “Naomi, you are not the way I left you,” I said, trying to be as calm as possible because I was already angry.

    “Rufus what has gone wrong with you?” she asked.

    “Don’t try to play dumb with me because you know what I am talking about,” I informed her.

    “I don’t understand,” she said with tears running down her face.

    “Someone has touched you and you know how much I detest lies,” I stated firmly.

    “We have been married for thirteen years and I have never cheated on you for once, not even when people advised me to sleep with another man to see if he could get me pregnant or leave you because you were not a man. How can I then go to the village and have an affair?” she asked.

    “That’s a question which only you can answer and please start telling the truth before I do something we will both regret for the rest of our lives,” I threatened.

    “Do your worst because I have told you that no one touched me,” she retorted.

    That night I didn’t touch her and didn’t sleep in the room with her because I was sure that someone had eaten out of my ‘cake’ and it broke my heart that my wife could still fake being faithful to me. After that day, I stopped eating her food or sleeping with her. I went to work early before she woke up and returned home when she had gone to bed.

    Some weeks later, I noticed that my wife’s body was changing, her complexion looked brighter, her breasts looked bigger and she was slow in movement. She tried for weeks for us to have a conversation but I avoided it because I was still mad at her.

    One evening, she came to my new resting place, the living room, and asked if we could have a talk. I refused to listen to her even though she stated her mind even with my rejection.

    “I am pregnant,” she said.

    The words hit me so hard that I felt like doing something to her, but I was able to control myself.

    “What did you just say?” I asked her because I thought I didn’t hear her clearly, but I heard her.

    She repeated her statement.

    “Is this a way of trying to make me talk to you or you have decided to let nonsense come out of your mouth?”

    “I am four months gone,” she said. The demons in me were struggling to act, to do something nasty to her, to shut her mouth but I was able to hold back.

    “What are you saying? Because I can neither make a tail nor a head from your statement. Please make me understand” I urged her.

    “I am pregnant,” she repeated.

    “For who?” The question blurted out of my mouth.

    “Were, when and how did it happen?”

    She was already shaking and couldn’t communicate clearly.

    “I know you are not the owner and that is what I want to explain to you,” she said.

    “Were you this desperate, my dear wife? I don’t need any explanation from you because you are a disgrace to me. No wonder you wanted me to sleep with you so that you can claim that I am responsible for the pregnancy…you’re a wicked woman, Naomi, God has exposed you and your wickedness,” I lamented, but my wife stood still and watched me and cried.

    “Rufus I am sorry for what I did…I was ashamed. I couldn’t just look you in the eyes and tell you that another man slept with me. I am ashamed of myself,” she said.

    “What do you want me to do, father another man’s child? God forbid!” I shouted at her and spat on the floor.  My heart was beating very fast and I felt like punching her so hard in the belly so that the bastard in her can look for another place to develop.

    “Who is responsible for it?” I managed to ask her.  Naomi was too embarrassed to answer and she started crying again.

    Again I asked, “Who is responsible for the pregnancy?”

    “The herbalist,” she revealed.

    “What?” I shouted.

    “Her…ba…list,” she repeated the word slowly and shakily this time. I was dumbfounded, short of words and filled with rage. Wondering what could have made my wife sleep with the herbalist up to the level of him getting her pregnant. Which means it wasn’t once or twice that he slept with her: “Was his sleeping with you part of the treatment or did you do this to bring shame to my name? I won’t let you disgrace me like this, you will go back to your family and give birth to the child because God knows I can’t father that thing… another man’s child. I want a child but not this way,” I informed her. She was just weeping and said nothing.

    “I knew those evil men are not to be trusted.”

    I was so disappointed in my wife that I left the house that night at about 1 am with no destination in mind. I had to leave as I was afraid I could do something drastic to her. I was wondering if I should leave her because I felt humiliated by what she did to me. As I was in my car driving round the town, I wondered what to do, whether to run away from there and start a new life- but I loved her so much, so much that I wouldn’t want to leave her; yet I didn’t want to be with her because another man’s child was inside her.

    I went back home after driving around for what seemed like three hours, my heart beat was so fast that I thought I would have a heart attack that night. I went straight to the room I was occupying and got myself drunk with brandy, thinking that it will take the hurt away, but the heartache refused to go.

    I couldn’t go to work for days, I couldn’t eat nor sleep. It was like the world was on shoulders. Naomi tried to make me eat but I refused her and her food, which I felt would kill me if I put it in my mouth.

    “Don’t disturb me, go and feed your lover the herbalist. I don’t need your food since you have decided to disgrace me this way,” I said. She pleaded but I paid no attention to her.

    I was in this sorry state of mind for three weeks and it landed me in the hospital. It was there in my hospital bed that I made up my mind that my wife would either leave or get rid of the pregnancy. When I got home that day after I was discharged, I told my wife about my final decision. I couldn’t just stay back and watch things continue to be upside-down in our lives.

    “I have told you from the onset that I will not father another man’s child just because I want to be a father, so what do you intend to do with this pregnancy?” I asked hoping that she had thought of what to do with it while I was at the hospital.

    “I don’t know what to do,” she said after much hesitation. “I don’t know what came over me…I am confused and I wish I could wake from this nightmare,” she stated.

    “How do you mean by that, did you not think of the consequences when you opened your legs for that old man? Well, I can’t father another man’s child. The options now are for us to end this marriage or you get rid of that thing,” I told her.

    “What! Leave or get rid of what?”

    “You heard me right woman,” I told her.

    “I can’t believe what you just said. I have made a mistake and every problem has it solution,” she pointed out.

    “I know and I have given you two solutions to make a choice out of it,” I responded.

    My wife later accepted the other option and we made arrangement to see a doctor. It was this very option that made my life what it is today. My Naomi started bleeding few days after visiting the doctor and she died as a result of this.

    I have not been able to tell anyone what really caused the death of my life…I lied that my wife had a miscarriage and died after bleeding for days while guilt have been my companion ever since this happened.

    I regret telling her to get rid of the Babalawo’s baby. If she had kept the pregnancy, my darling wife would be alive today not six feet below. Now, my life is empty, full of regret and pains. Loneliness is my daily companion and there are times I feel like taking my life. For what is the point of going on living without my sweet Naomi?

    – By Udemma Chukwuma

    Concluded

    What do you advise Rufus to do?

    Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator and other individuals in the story.

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