How the 1949 disappearance of 15-month-old Adediwura in colonial Nigeria led to a palace investigation, a landmark trial, and the execution of a traditional ruler.

Authorities in colonial Nigeria uncovered a chilling ritual murder involving a traditional ruler, following the disappearance and killing of a 15-month-old girl in Efon Alaaye.

Efon Alaaye, Nigeria—A quiet community in the present-day Ekiti and Osun region was thrown into chaos on January 10, 1949, after a toddler identified as Adediwura mysteriously vanished from her family compound. The sudden disappearance of the infant triggered widespread panic, with residents describing scenes of grief and confusion. The child’s mother was said to be inconsolable as members of the community launched an immediate search.

In desperation, residents stormed the palace of the Alaaye of Efon, Oba Samuel Adeniran Asusumasa II, seeking intervention. The monarch reportedly assured the community that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

However, what began as a missing persons case soon spiraled into a grim revelation. Sources later disclosed that an herbalist had abducted the child and taken her to the palace, where she was allegedly killed for ritual purposes. The victim’s eyes and tongue were reportedly removed before her body was disposed of in a nearby forest. Those involved were said to have sworn an oath of secrecy.

The incident quickly gained national attention, with widespread media coverage intensifying public outrage. Authorities from the Lagos Criminal Investigation Department (CID) subsequently took over the case. A team of investigators, including Inspector Aruah, Sergeant Sule Agbabiaka, Olawale, and Constable Ariyo, led the probe.

Findings from the investigation confirmed that the child had been used for ritual practices. The herbalist and three accomplices were arrested and, during interrogation, reportedly implicated the monarch in the crime.

The case was later brought before the West African Court of Appeal, where prominent figures, including Obafemi Awolowo, Olu Alakija, and Bode Thomas, were present and expressed outrage over the revelations.

Following trial proceedings, the court found the monarch, the herbalist, and his servant guilty of murder. In 1949, Oba Samuel Adeniran Asusumasa II was executed by hanging, marking one of the most shocking criminal cases in Nigeria’s colonial history.

In the end, this chilling case stands as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in history—one that unfolded in 1949, during Nigeria’s colonial era, leaving a legacy of shock, outrage, and justice that still resonates today.