Police to investigate new link in 'Thames torso' case

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Police investigating the case of a boy's torso that was found floating in the river Thames a decade ago are to travel to Nigeria, after a documentary claimed to shed light on the boy's identity and final days alive.

The ITV London report interviewed a Nigerian woman who claims to have cared for the child in Germany for six years before his parents were deported back to Nigeria.

Identifying the child as "Ikpomwosa", she claims to have later handed the child to a man called "Bawa", who took him to London. She was later informed of his death and blackmailed into not divulging any information to authorities.

The headless and limbless body of the five- or six-year-old child was found near Tower Bridge in September 2001. The boy was named Adam by officers.

Tests revealed he was poisoned 48 hours before his death and was paralysed but conscious when he was killed.

Officers believe Adam's death was a ritualistic killing and he had been poisoned with an extract from the calabar bean. Yesterday, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that the investigation team have been preparing to visit Lagos, Nigeria, in connection with the Adam inquiry. They will be travelling in the near future."