Oyo Police Bust Syndicate Selling Human Body Parts for Rituals

 

The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered a gruesome syndicate involved in exhuming corpses from cemeteries and selling their body parts for ritual purposes in Ibadan.

In a statement released on Friday, March 21, 2025, the command's spokesperson, CSP Osifeso Adewale, revealed that two suspects, Ridwan Bello (35), also known as Asalailu, and Fatai Adeleke (70), were arrested with human body parts.

According to the statement:

“On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at about 2:30 AM, detectives from the Iyaganku Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on a tip-off, conducted a search at the residence of Ridwan Bello in the Muslim area of Ibadan.”

During the raid, officers discovered a female human torso, severed limbs, dried bones, and other dismembered remains stored in bags and a paint bucket.

Bello confessed to exhuming corpses from a cemetery in Awa-Ijebu, Ogun State, and selling body parts to ritualists. He later led police detectives to the cemetery, where his claims were verified.

His confession also led to the arrest of Fatai Adeleke, a 70-year-old buyer of human parts, who admitted to purchasing the remains for ritual purposes.

The case has been handed over to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations.

In light of this incident, the Oyo State Police Command has issued a public advisory: Cemetery managers must increase security to prevent body theft. Transporters should scrutinize passengers' loads to ensure they are not unknowingly aiding criminal activities. Residents should report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.

The Oyo State Call Response Center can be reached at 615 or through the following emergency numbers: 08081768614, 09054133071, 09061299291

“If you see something, say something. Together, we can enhance the safety and security of our community.”

This shocking discovery once again highlights the dark underbelly of ritual killings in Nigeria and the urgent need for heightened vigilance and strict enforcement of laws against such practices.