In the farming community in Wassa Nkyirifi, Western Region, residents woke up to a chilling incident on Friday morning, August 4.

A seven-year-old girl named Sandy Manu has been murdered by her uncle, allegedly as part of a ritualistic act for monetary gain.

The prime suspect, identified solely as Augustine, a 37-year-old farmer, initially reported to the police that his niece had gone missing.

He claimed that she had disappeared, prompting concerns from the community. Augustine even took the step of making public appeals on radio for assistance in locating the young girl.

However, law enforcement in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal area became suspicious due to Augustine's peculiar behavior and responses during questioning.

His intense anxiety and eventual emotional breakdown raised red flags. Subsequently, during intensive police interrogation, Augustine broke down and confessed to the heinous crime.

According to information from a police source, Augustine revealed that his motive for the murder was rooted in a desire to escape poverty.

He disclosed that he had confided in an elderly individual within the Wassa Nkyirifi community about his financial struggles. Shockingly, this person advised him to engage in a ritualistic act involving one of his nieces to acquire wealth.

Driven by this advice, Augustine sought out a spiritualist the following day, seeking guidance for the money ritual.

The spiritualist allegedly instructed him to obtain a human head, specifically that of one of his nieces, to proceed with the ritual. Augustine then targeted Sandy, his own niece, and carried out the gruesome act.

Following the murder and decapitation, Augustine buried the headless body in a nearby forest and concealed the severed head for the ritual.

Under police custody, Augustine led authorities to the site where the body was buried, leading to the exhumation of the headless remains. Additionally, the head itself was recovered from another location.

The victim's body has been transported to a morgue, and Augustine is currently in police custody facing charges related to the heinous crime.

Disturbing footage of the exhumation was shared on social media by members of the community, further highlighting the shocking and tragic nature of the incident.