The Oyo State Police Command has detained ten suspects in connection with the alleged trade in human body parts, following an intelligence-led operation that resulted in the recovery of suspected human remains and ritual paraphernalia.
The arrests were carried out at various locations in Iseyin and Saki, after months of intelligence gathering and discreet surveillance by the command’s monitoring unit.
Recovered Items Include Human Heart and Skull
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday. He revealed that operatives conducted searches of the suspects’ hideouts following the arrests, recovering several items believed to be human parts.
“The exhibits include one suspected human heart, human flesh, pieces of human skull, and assorted charms,” Ayanlade stated.
He confirmed that the recovered items had been secured for forensic analysis as investigators continued to probe the case. The suspects, he added, were assisting detectives in establishing the origin of the items, how they were obtained, and their intended purpose.
Investigation Expanded
Ayanlade noted that the investigation had been broadened, with operatives working to track down other individuals allegedly linked to the suspected syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Abimbola Olugbenga, commended the officers involved in the operation for their diligence and professionalism. He assured residents that the command would sustain its efforts to dismantle criminal networks and protect human life across the state, according to Ayanlade.