The fresh heart of a one-year-old girl, identified as Success Ime, has been discovered in a church at 3, Okon Edak Street, off Atamunu, Calabar in Cross River State.
The General Overseer of the Ministry, a Reverend, has been arrested for allegedly using the girl for ritual.
It was gathered that other fetish items, including goat heads, dead chicken, male and female effigies, wooden boat, crafted camel among others, were uncovered by men of Uwanse Police Division.
The grandmother of the victim, Mrs Arit Ime, told journalists that at about 3a.m. yesterday, they heard banging on their door, following which two masked men entered their room at 8, Okon Edak Street.
She said: “We were sleeping and at about 3a.m. when two men, who were fully masked, entered and started ransacking the house. They told us to lie face down or we will be shot.
“Initially, we thought they were robbers not knowing that they came for my little girl, Success, who was just one year and six months old.
“They took off with her, after which we raised the alarm. In the process, some of our neighbours made phone calls to the Police and one of them was apprehended.
“But as we speak, little Success is nowhere to be found. Part of the items we were told that was discovered included a fresh heart of a little child and we have no doubt that it is hers.”
When contacted the Police spokesman, Irene Ugbo, told newsmen that that the matter was now a murder case and that seven persons, including the General Overseer of the church had been arrested.
Ugbo said: “We have arrested seven people, including one Reverend. We discovered a shrine in the church as well as other fetish items, including a fresh human heart, believed to be that of a child.”
Irene said investigation was ongoing to arrest other suspects who were still at large.
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