The Edo State Police Command have arrested two suspected fake herbalists for allegedly defrauding two married women of the sum of N876,000 (Eight Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand Naira).
State Police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor, said the suspects obtained money under the pretence of providing spiritual solutions to their marriage and business challenges.
The fake herbalists, Lukman Ganiyu, 28, and Ojo Oluwaseun, 38, were arrested on February 2 at Ugbiyokho community by a surveillance team and paraded in Benin City on Wednesday.
According to , Nwabuzor, while investigating a case of obtaining money under false pretence reported by Mrs Joy Akhiobare and Mrs Ijeoma Blessing Kalu.
He said the women were duped when they went to the suspects to seek spiritual help over the collapse of their businesses.
“The suspects, under the pretence of providing spiritual help, deceitfully obtained N850,000 from Joy Akhiobare and N26,000 from Ijeoma Blessing Kalu, respectively,” Nwabuzor said in part.
According to him, detectives recovered the charm used by the suspects to threaten the women that they would die if they reported the issue to anybody.
Speaking to the press, one of the suspects, Ganiyu Lukman, who hails from Ekiti State, admitted to being a fake herbalist, saying he duped the women of the sum of N236,000 only.
He also said that the victim later brought one of her friends who wanted him to perform money ritual for him to become rich.
“I came to Benin on January 16, and I was arrested on February 2. One of the women came to tell me that she has a problem in her marriage and that I should help her as a native doctor,” Ganiyu stated.
