Woman throws 5-year-old son into river in Edo, claims child is possessed by ‘python spirit’

A 35-year-old woman identified as Osasere has been arrested by the police for allegedly throwing her five-year-old son into River Ovia in Onwa community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, following advice from a seer who reportedly described the child as a “python spirit.”

The incident, which has generated outrage among residents, reportedly occurred at River Ovia, where the woman allegedly dumped the boy into the water.

Eyewitnesses said fishermen in the area noticed the incident and immediately intervened. The fishermen were said to have pursued the woman and prevented an angry mob from attacking her before taking her in a canoe to assist in the search for the child.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to recover the child’s body had not been successful.

In a video circulating on social media, Osasere claimed she gave birth to the child five years ago but became worried because he had not started walking.

She also alleged that after the birth of the boy, several attempts to conceive again ended in miscarriages.

According to her, a friend later introduced her to a seer for spiritual consultation. She claimed the seer told her that the child was a “python spirit” and was responsible for the miscarriages by allegedly causing the loss of her unborn children.

Osasere further alleged that the seer advised her to throw the child into River Ovia if she wanted to become pregnant again.

Confirming the incident, Edo State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said both the woman and the seer had been taken into custody.

The police spokesperson added that investigations were ongoing and that further details would be made available as the case progresses.

Meanwhile, residents have continued to express shock over the incident, while the search for the missing child remains ongoing.

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