The Osun State Police Command has apprehended seven individuals suspected of engaging in the illicit trade of human body parts, following a tip-off from a concerned citizen.
This information was disclosed by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Giwa-Alade Emmanuel, during the suspects’ parade at the Command headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday.
According to Emmanuel, the arrests were made after law enforcement received credible information regarding the illegal activities of Johnson Daniel, a mortuary attendant based in Ipetu-Ijesa, who allegedly sells human remains to native doctors.
Emmanuel stated, “The above-named suspects were arrested upon credible information from a good-spirited individual that one Johnson Daniel, a mortuary attendant at Ipetu-Ijesa, sells portions of human remains deposited at the mortuary to native doctors.”
The police arrested seven suspects: Johnson Daniel, Adetunji Okunade, Olaniyan Azeez, Balogun Temitope Asimiyu, Oladapo Hammed, Kazeem Rasak, and Asaka Rauf. During the search of their residences, several incriminating items were recovered, including fragments of suspected human bones, female undergarments, and notebooks detailing ritual practices.
The investigation revealed that Johnson Daniel and his accomplice, Adetunji Okunade, not only sold human remains but also the water used in bathing corpses to ritualists. Emmanuel explained, “The said suspects use these remains gotten from the mortuary attendant (Johnson Daniel) for different ritual purposes.
Daniel also confessed that he conspired with one other mortuary attendant named Adetunji Okunade ‘m’ to sell remnant of water used in bathing corpses to interested native doctors.”
Further searches at the homes of the suspects led to the discovery of suspected human skull fragments at the residences of Asaka Rauf and Oladapo Hammed. At Balogun Temitope Asimiyu’s residence, a female undergarment and a notebook with ritual instructions were found.
In addition to the human remains, the police also recovered a variety of exhibits, including a Ford SUV, a Hunter motorcycle, an empty shell cartridge, an iPhone, and a magnet.
Emmanuel assured the public that all the suspects have been charged, and the investigation into the case is still ongoing.
