The police in Osun say a suspected ritualist beheaded and cut off the hands of a female food vendor in Ile-Ife.

The killing, according to the police, happened on Saturday.

In a statement on Sunday by a spokesperson for the force, Yemisi Opalola, the police said they were on the trail of the assailant.

Ms Opalola explained that the woman, known as Iya Elekuru, was lured into a building by her killer, under the pretence that he wanted to buy food from her.

“The woman hawking food was lured inside a house and was brutally murdered.

“The suspect chopped off her head and hand, and he fled the scene with the mutilated body parts. Our men have, however, evacuated the body of the woman.

“The son of the victim has also claimed the corpse and buried her according to Islamic rites.

“Irate youths have, however, razed the building where the woman was killed, and police efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect,” she said.

It was gathered that a herbalist (suspected to be the culprit) lived in the apartment the woman’s body was discovered.

(NAN)