The Edo State Police Command says it has arrested a 35-year-old woman for allegedly throwing her five-year-old son into River Ovia in Onwa community, Ovia North-East LGA of the state.
The woman, identified as Osasere, was said to have been apprehended by local fishermen after dumping her son into the river following spiritual advice from an alleged seer.
The fishermen were said to have pursued the suspect and prevented an angry mob from lynching her before taking her in a canoe to search for the child.
In a viral video, the suspect said she gave birth to the child five years ago but became worried because he had not started walking.
She said several attempts to conceive after his birth ended in miscarriages.
According to her, a friend later introduced her to a seer, who alleged that the seer claimed the child was a “python spirit” responsible for the miscarriages by spiritually “eating” the babies in her womb.
She said the seer advised her to throw the child into River Ovia if she wanted to become pregnant again.
Eno Ikoedem, spokesperson for the Edo police command, told said investigations into the incident are ongoing, adding that further details will be made available as they emerge.
“She is in our custody at the moment. We arrested her the day the incident happened,” she said.
