Police Arrest Two Ritualists for Exhuming Corpses, Selling Body Parts

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two individuals for allegedly exhuming human corpses and selling the body parts to ritualists. According to a statement released on Friday in Ibadan by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, the arrests followed a tip-off received by detectives at the Iyaganku Divisional Police Headquarters.

Acting swiftly on the intelligence, officers conducted a search at a residence in the Muslim area of Ibadan, where they discovered disturbing evidence. A female human torso, severed limbs, dried bones, and other dismembered remains were found concealed in bags and a paint bucket.

During interrogation, one of the suspects confessed to exhuming a body from a cemetery in Awa-Ijebu, located in Ogun State’s Ijebu North Local Government Area. He admitted to selling the parts to ritualists and led investigators to the cemetery, where his claims were confirmed. His confession also led to the arrest of a second suspect, a man in his seventies, who allegedly purchased some of the human remains.

The second suspect also confessed to being involved in the illegal trade. The case has since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. Police say efforts are ongoing to track down others connected to the operation.

Commissioner of Police, Johnson Ademola, has called on cemetery managers to remain vigilant in the wake of these developments. He also urged transporters to be cautious and inspect passengers’ luggage to avoid unwittingly aiding criminal activity.