“How I Convinced My Relative to Get Human Parts for Fortune Ritual” — Suspect

Ogunbode Taiwo, one of three suspects arrested by the Osun State Police Command, has confessed that he persuaded his relative, Afeez Lateef, to obtain human body parts for a ritual aimed at improving their fortunes. Taiwo, 47, told investigators that Lateef was initially hesitant, but he encouraged him, believing the ritual could change their lives for the better.

The arrests, which also involved a native doctor, Ogo Thomas, 55, followed a police operation at a cemetery where the suspects had exhumed corpses to retrieve body parts for ritual purposes. Authorities said the trio showed no preference for the state of the corpses and would cover the graves with sand to avoid detection.

DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, explained that police received intelligence on December 3 that human parts were in possession of some individuals in Ile Ogbo. Officers moved quickly to a dilapidated building, where they arrested the three suspects. Items recovered included human flesh, bones, teeth, hair, ritual cloth, horns, a knife, suspected cannabis, and N127,000 in cash.

Taiwo, a farmer and former security guard, admitted to convincing Lateef to participate after repeated unsuccessful attempts to gain fortune through other native doctors. “I had been going to many native doctors and Ifa priests, though I’m a Muslim. I needed fortification, better living, and academic support for my children,” he said.

Thomas, who trained under two different practitioners in Ogun State before setting up his practice in Ile-Ogbo, said he had never performed rituals involving human parts before this incident. He explained that Taiwo and Lateef approached him in November 2024 seeking help to improve their fortunes and requested a ritual known as oshólè, which required human body parts. He detailed the process, including removing teeth, flesh, and cloth from graves without fully exhuming corpses.

Lateef, 30, said he only acted as a lookout while Taiwo and Thomas retrieved the human parts. The suspects were arrested shortly after returning to Thomas’s residence.

Police confirmed that the suspects confessed to the crime and revealed that the group specialized in exhuming corpses for ritual purposes. All three are set to face prosecution once investigations are completed. Authorities have directed officers to intensify intelligence-led operations to prevent similar activities across the state.

The suspects have appealed to the government for mercy and forgiveness.