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Police tighten noose on alleged killers of 11-year-old girl

The Police in Delta State have stepped up thier investigation into the murder of Miss Loveth Balogun, 11, who was allegedly beheaded by her uncle. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jacob Oshiomogbo, has ordered the transfer of the four suspects, who were arrested in connection with the incident, from the Ovwian-Aladja Divisional Police Headquarters to Asaba, the state capital, for close supervision. SHOLA O'NEIL reports.

She was allegedly beheaded by her uncle in Egini, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State penultimate Saturday.

The victim's uncle and three other persons, including two pastors, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The suspects, including two of the victim's relatives, were initially arrested by the Ovwian-Aladja Police Division, but they were transferred to Asaba, the state capital last weekend on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jacob Oshiomogbo.

had last Wednesday exclusively reported the incident.

Police sources said yesterday that the two pastors and the deceased's relative were moved to Asaba.

One of the suspects, it was learnt, made confessional statements that could help the police unearth the masterminds of several unresolved ritual killings in the Urhobo community.

The suspect's statement, according to a source, could lead to more arrests.

Eyewitness said Loveth was taken to the Egini in September by her uncle, Mr. Collins Balogun, following the death of her father in 2005.

One of her uncles, who is the prime suspect, sources said, lured her away from her breakfast shortly before mid-day on the fateful day under the pretext that he wanted to send her on an errand.

"He took her to a nearby bush where he cut off her head and abandoned her headless body. He made away with the head hidden in a shopping bag," a source said.

Nemesis caught up with him when a member of the community sighted him wielding the blood-stained cutlass afterwards.

The terror-stricken resident raised the alarm that attracted other members of the community.

The suspect, who absconded from the community, was apprehended in nearby Ayagha, barely 24 hours later by a search party mounted by the community.

Police spokesman Charles Muka, who had confirmed the arrest of Loveth's uncle and two pastors in a telephone interview, could not be reached for comments yesterday.

But a police source confirmed that the suspects had been moved to Asaba, adding that the topmost hierarchy of the force was monitoring of the case.