The Oyo State Police Command, on Friday, paraded a suspected ritualist, Muhammad Adekunle, for allegedly killing and selling human parts in Ibadan, the state capital.
Also arrested were Muniru Salawudeen, Rashidat Akanji, Ismail Olalekan, and Obaleye Sanmi, who confessed that they bought different types of human parts for money ritual from the said Adekunle.
The command said Adekunle, sometime in January 2024, together with three accomplices, Lukman, Olobe and one Ifa, all now at large, conspired to kill people for money ritual.
Speaking while parading the suspect at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, the state Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi, said Adekunle, sometime in April 2024, and others now at large, lured one Adekola Sodiq to Moniya where they severed his head and legs, which were sold to one Obaleye Sanmi and one Ismail Olalekan.
Sonubi said Adekunle further confessed that on August 7, 2024, he and others now at large, stabbed one Malik Kareem to death and severed his head and legs which were sold to one Rashidat Akanji for N70,000 at Oje Market.
The CP said, “Meanwhile, on August 11, 2024, around 06.30 am, execution of search warrant was conducted in the houses and premises of the suspects where a fresh flesh was recovered and which he voluntarily confessed to be the parts of the said Malik Kareem whom they killed on August 7, 2024.
He added, “In the course of the investigation, the following suspects; Muniru Salawudeen, Rashidat Akanji, Ismail Olalekan, and Obaleye Sanmi, were arrested and they confessed that they bought different types of human parts for money ritual from the said Adekunle Mohammed.
“On August 10, 2024, around 12.15 am, one Ayede reported at the above-mentioned station that earlier on the same date, an offensive odour was noticed oozing out from a building that belongs to one Muhammad Adekunle, 40, and that the said owner is not residing in the house but he usually visits the house at odd hours of the day.
“On receipt of the information, operatives from the Moniya Divisional Police Headquarters swung into action and moved to the scene, where a dry well was seen at the house’s compound. On close observation, gory sights of what had the semblance of mutilated human bodies were spotted inside the well.
“Eventually, the remains of three unidentified bodies were removed to the state hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy. Photographs were taken as well.”
The CP said the police also arrested one Muyideen Raimi for exhuming and cutting off the head of his late cousin, Sulaiman Aromokun, buried at Aromokun’s compound, Isale Ijebu, Ibadan.
He explained that the suspect was subsequently arrested with the exhibit and he confessed to the crime and also mentioned one Sumaila, aka, Baba Ibeji, now at large, with whom they conspired and perpetrated the act.
“He confessed further that they intended to use the skull for a money ritual. However, the investigation is ongoing and further development will be communicated, please,” he added.
PUNCH
