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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Oyo State Police Command, on Friday, paraded a 45-year-old suspected ritualist, identified as Hassan Kolawole, for being in possession of human parts including fresh head.
Kolawole was paraded alongside nine other suspects, who were arrested for various crimes at different locations within the city at the Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The suspect, according the Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat, was arrested on Monday, November 6, 2023.
Hamzat, who spoke through the command’s spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, said other items found in Kolawole’s possession include fresh human hands and one HP Laptop.
He said the suspect was arrested at Ogbere Tioya, in Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state.
Osifeso noted that the arrest was made possible following credible intelligence reports from members of the public.
“The dragnet of the command caught up with the cleric after purposeful investigations and tracking around Ogbere Tioya area, Ibadan, under Ona-ara Local Government Area.
“The suspect was found in possession of items suspected to be fresh human head and two hands, which he said were given to him by one Tijani Waheed, now at large,” the PPRO said.
Speaking with journalists, Kolawole said the fresh human head and two hands found in his possession were for ritual purposes.
“I have one wife and two children, and things are very hard for me in taking good care of them,” he said.
The suspect said he discussed his economic situation with an Islamic cleric whom he met at a programme, adding that the Islamic cleric promised to help him get human parts for rituals.
“I told him that I don’t know how to get the human parts, and he promised to get it for me.
“He later brought the human parts to me at Amuloko, where we met early in the morning.I kept it in my office where I attend to people seeking spiritual assistance.
“The police came to search my office on the day Waheed gave me the fresh head and two hands,” he added.
Eight other suspected criminals were also paraded for their alleged involvement in cultism and murder.
Osifeso noted that some of items recovered from the suspects include an improvised gun, an axe, 17 wraps of loud drugs, laptop and cell phones.