Man Arrested With Female Pants, Pad In Ondo

A suspected ‘ritualist,’ Kayode Michael, was almost beaten to death yesterday after he was caught with women pants and sanitary pad at Danjuma area of Akure, Ondo State.

Michael was arrested by residents of the area for picking women underwear allegedly for ritual purposes.

The suspect was caught with a nylon bag containing female underwear. He was accused of planning to use the underwear for ritual purposes or might sell them to the ‘ritualists’.

A witness said some of the female items found in the bag which the suspect was carrying included different used pants, bras and a blood-soaked sanitary pad.

“People saw him picking female underwear around the area, but when he was asked why he was doing that, he could not give a convincing answer. So, the people thought maybe he wanted to use them for rituals.

“As he could not give answer to the questions put to him, people started beating him. They wanted to kill him but he was later rescued and handed over to the security agents,” the witness said.

“The man was caught by okada riders in Danjuma area of Akure while he was picking female pants and bras; he also picked a fresh sanitary pad soaked with blood. Nobody knew what he wanted to use them for. But he has been handed over to men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command.”

The state NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Oladapo Samuel, said the suspect was still in the custody of the corps while investigation had started into the matter.

Samuel also explained that the relatives of the suspect had visited the command to confirm that he (suspect) was mentally-challenged and he was fond of picking refuse around the town.

He said: “The suspect was rescued from an angry mob by two patriotic citizens. He was confirmed to engage in begging for alms and picking of dustbins around the metropolis by his relatives and neighbours.

“At the scene, no witness was willing to speak with NSCDC officers on the circumstances of his arrest to determine if he was actually caught with the exhibits or that he was checking the nylon bag containing the exhibits. Investigation is still ongoing on the case.”