The Osun State Police Command has announced the arrest of seven individuals suspected of possessing human body parts, as part of an ongoing effort to combat ritualistic practices in the region.

During a press conference held at the Command headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday, the police paraded the suspects, identified as Johnson Daniel, Adetunji Okunade, Olaniyan Azeez, Balogun Temitope Asimiyu, Oladapo Hammed, Kazeem Rasak, and Asaka Rauf.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Giwa-Alade Emmanuel revealed that the arrests were made following credible information from a concerned citizen. Johnson Daniel, a mortuary attendant in Ipetu-Ijesa, allegedly sold portions of human remains to local native doctors for ritual purposes. Daniel reportedly conspired with fellow mortuary attendant Adetunji Okunade to also sell remnants of water used in bathing corpses.

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During the investigation, searches conducted at the suspects’ residences uncovered chilling evidence, including fragments suspected to be human skulls at the homes of Asaka Rauf and Oladapo Hammed. Additionally, police recovered a female pant and notebooks containing instructions for ritual practices from Balogun Temitope Asimiyu’s residence.

Giwa-Alade confirmed that the suspects have been charged in court as the investigation continues.

In a related case, the police also paraded five other individuals—Taiwo Adekunle, Adebayo Opeyemi, Hasan Ibrahim, Oba Wasiu, and Olajide Oladapo—on allegations of armed robbery. Recovered exhibits include a Ford Jeep with registration number SMK945OS, a Hunter motorcycle (registration number WWD604QF), an empty shell cartridge, an iPhone, and a magnet.