Torso police follow new leads to Nigeria

British detectives hunting the killer of a young boy whose torso was found floating in London's River Thames were today in Nigeria to chase up vital new leads.

Two London Metropolitan Police officers have travelled to the African country after ground-breaking forensic work revealed in January that the youngster, who has been called Adam, came from a specific region there.

Three more Met detectives are due to join them next week as the year-and-a-half murder hunt enters a new stage.

Yesterday Arsenal FC’s Nigerian star Nwankwo Kanu made a televised appeal for information to help catch those responsible.

Adam is believed to have been aged between four and seven and was discovered in the Thames near Tower Bridge in September 2001.

British detectives fear the youngster was brought to London and killed as a human sacrifice.

Commander Andy Baker and Detective Inspector Will O’Reilly arrived in Nigeria on Wednesday to continue the search for clues.

It comes after forensic evidence narrowed the boy’s home down to a 100-mile by 50-mile corridor between Benin City and Ibadan.

Asked about the difficulties of gleaning information from local people, Commander Baker told Sky News: “It’s quite a taboo subject but we have got to be mature about that.

“I think we must maintain that we are not judging the culture, we are investigating a murder.”

The officers will visit schools, law enforcement authorities, towns and villages in the area Adam is believed to have come from.

A reward, the equivalent of about £2,500 (€3,600), has also been offered.

In his televised appeal, Kanu said: “Officers have come to Nigeria hoping to find his family.

“If you can help there is a reward for information.”

Senior Nigerian police officer General Tafa Balogun said he was “highly, highly optimistic” about the detectives’ work in his country.

Last September, a short memorial service was held at City Hall in London to celebrate the life of Adam.

Up to 30 police officers, scientists, pathologists and various experts involved in the case attended the service before laying a wreath about half a mile from where his torso was found.