The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects accused of exhuming corpses and selling body parts to ritualists, exposing a chilling trade in human remains.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Friday in Ibadan, revealing that the operation was carried out following a crucial tip-off received by detectives at the Iyaganku Divisional Police Headquarters.
“During the search, a female human torso and other dismembered human remains, including severed limbs and dried bones, which were stored in bags and a paint bucket, were recovered,” Osifeso said.
One of the suspects, in his confession, admitted to digging up a corpse from a cemetery in Awa-Ijebu, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, and selling the remains to ritualists.
Following his confession, detectives tracked down a second suspect, a septuagenarian, who was allegedly involved in purchasing human body parts.
“He also admitted to his involvement in the illicit trade in human body parts,” Osifeso added.
The case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, as police intensify efforts to apprehend other suspects linked to the disturbing operation.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Ademola, has issued a stern warning to cemetery managers, urging them to heighten security amid rising cases of corpse exhumation.
Ademola also cautioned transporters to be more vigilant and carefully inspect passengers’ luggage to prevent unknowingly aiding such criminal activities.
