The Oyo State Police Command has dismantled a syndicate specializing in exhuming corpses and selling body parts for ritual purposes in Ibadan, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
Command spokesperson CSP Osifeso Adewale confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, March 21, 2025. He revealed that operatives apprehended Ridwan Bello, 35, also known as “Asalailu,” and his 70-year-old accomplice, Fatai Adeleke, after a tip-off led detectives to Bello’s residence in the Muslim area of Ibadan.
During the raid, conducted around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18, officers uncovered gruesome evidence, including a female torso, severed limbs, and dried bones, all packed in bags and a paint bucket.
Bello confessed to exhuming the corpse from a cemetery in Awa-Ijebu, Ogun State, and admitted selling the remains to ritualists. He led police to the cemetery, confirming his account.
Further interrogation resulted in the arrest of Adeleke, identified as a regular buyer of the body parts. Adeleke admitted his involvement in the illegal trade, supporting Bello’s statements.
The case has been handed over to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough probe, with police intensifying efforts to track down other members of the syndicate.
In response to the disturbing trend, the Oyo State Police Command has urged cemetery managers to increase security measures to prevent further exhumations. Transporters are also advised to carefully inspect passengers’ belongings to avoid unwittingly aiding criminal activity.
The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the Oyo State Call Response Center at 615 or via 08081768614, 09054133071, and 09061299291.
“See something, say something — together, we can protect our communities,” the police statement concluded.