Islamic cleric, 10 others arrested with human parts
The Police Command in Oyo State has disclosed that it has arrested an Islamic cleric with 10 suspects in possession of nine dry human skulls, one fresh human head, intestines and other vital body parts.
While speaking with journalists, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso of the command, made this known on Thursday in Ibadan.
According to Vanguard, Osifeso revealed that the suspects were arrested in their hideout at Orita-Aperin area of Ibadan, noting that 16 others were arrested in connection with alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.
The police image maker stressed that, at discreet intelligence gathering carried out on Feb. 22 by a police monitoring unit uncovered the criminal activities of the suspects.
He stated that the suspects specialized in selling human skulls and other organs for ritual purposes.
Confirming the incident, the PPRO said that the 11 members of the criminal gang had all confessed to the crime upon interrogations.
He explained further that the suspects confessed that the dry human skulls were harvested from corpses at burial grounds.
He said they also affirmed that the fresh human head and other body organs were removed from a persons after being killed by their kingpin, simply identified as Amuludun who is now at large.
Osifeso disclosed that investigation was now ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, saying that the public would be informed on further developments later.
However, one of the suspects and wife of the principal suspect now at large, said she knew her husband as an Islamic cleric and was suprised when the human skulls were found in his office.
She said that she went to her husband’s office to collect money for foodstuffs when the police came and searched the office where the skulls were found.
The command’s spokesman also said that seven suspected armed robbers who invaded Felele community, Ibadan with guns and some other dangerous weapons were arrested.
Osifeso noted that the victims raised alarm when the armed robbers were fleeing, adding that the alarm attracted a police monitoring unit who arrested the suspects.