Operatives of Oyo State Police Command, South West Nigeria, have arrested two suspects, including a septuagenarian, notorious for exhuming corpses and selling body parts to ritualists.
The Command’s spokesman, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Friday in Ibadan.
He revealed that the arrest followed 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.
The confession of the suspect who 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, led to the arrest of the 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 State Police Commissioner, Mr Johnson Ademola, has issued a stern warning to managers of cemeteries a cross the State, urging them to heighten security amid rising cases of corpse exhumation.
He also cautioned transporters to be more vigilant and carefully inspect passengers’ luggage to prevent unknowingly aiding such criminal activities.
