A 47-year-old woman, Blessing Potoki, has found herself at the center of a bizarre and controversial case in Lagos after allegedly breaking into her neighbor’s shop through the ceiling, stripping herself naked, and performing mystical incantations in the dead of night at the Army Arena Market, Oshodi.
The unusual incident, which unfolded on February 3, 2025, has sparked widespread reactions across social media, with many debating whether this was an attempted burglary, a case of spiritual warfare, or a mix of both.
According to reports from P.M. Express, the complainant, Nzube Ibezim, had an undisclosed dispute with Potoki before the incident. Later that night, after traders had locked their shops and vacated the market, Potoki allegedly:
Broke into Ibezim’s shop through the ceiling.
Stripped herself completely naked.
Chanted incantations using unknown materials while calling Ibezim’s name.
However, before she could complete her ritual, market security guards caught her in the act and immediately alerted the police at Akinpelu Division, leading to her arrest and subsequent detention.
Following her arrest, the police conducted an interrogation and found her actions to be a serious criminal offense under the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015. She was arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate Court, where she faced multiple charges, including:
Count I: Breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony (Section 307).
Count II: Attempted stealing (Section 21).
Count III: Conduct likely to cause a breach of peace—breaking into the shop stark naked while performing incantations (Section 168d).
During the court proceedings, Potoki pleaded not guilty to all charges, prompting the prosecution, Inspector Kokoye Olusegun, to request a trial date to present evidence proving her involvement in the alleged crime.
The presiding magistrate, O.O. Fagbohun, granted Potoki bail set at ₦100,000, with two sureties required to:
Provide evidence of a steady means of livelihood.
Show proof of tax payment.
Undergo address verification by the court.
Since she had yet to fulfill her bail conditions, Potoki was remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Center, pending her compliance. The court adjourned the case to March 4, 2025, for further proceedings.
This peculiar case has ignited a firestorm of reactions across social media platforms, with users on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn debating the incident.
X (Twitter): Some users joked about the supernatural element, calling it a “juju-fueled burglary attempt,” while others questioned whether spiritual warfare was at play.
Facebook & Instagram: Many expressed concern over the growing cases of mystical practices being used in conflicts, especially in markets where business rivalries can turn sinister.
LinkedIn: Legal and security experts discussed the implications of combining spiritual activities with criminal intent, emphasizing the need for strict law enforcement to curb such behaviors.
The case raises important questions about the intersection of spiritual beliefs and criminal law. Was this a deliberate burglary masked as a ritual, or was it a case of traditional practices gone too far?
Regardless, Lagos authorities have made it clear that breaking into private property under any circumstances—ritual or not—is a punishable crime under Nigerian law.
With the case set to continue in March, Nigerians are closely watching how the legal system will handle one of the strangest incidents of 2025 so far.
Stay tuned for updates as more details emerge!
