Rituals: Herbalist, one other arrested for exhuming corpses
Stories by Ahmed Ajikobi
A 28- year- old herbalist, Seyi Ogunnaike popularly known as ‘Aiyenika’ and Kamaldeen Azeez, 26 of Gaa- Akanbi in Ilorin and Amoyo respectively, were arrested by men of Kwara State Police Command, penultimate Wednesday, Pilot Crime has learnt.
It was gathered that the suspects were sighted while exhuming corpses from a cemetery in Falokun village via Ilemona in Oyun Local Government area of the state.
According to a police source, the suspects had gone to the grave yard to exhume corpse of the village head, Yakub Akanbi, who died on the 23rd of January, 2018.
“A day after the burial, Tajudeen Saka popularly called “Oji” of Amoyo, now at large, who is also a native of Falokun village alongside his friend, the herbalist arrived the village on motorcycle and went to the grave site where the village head was buried. The duo dug the grave cut off head of the village head and hid it in the bush.”
The source added that one of the villagers, Wahab Amosa who went to the cemetery where the late Akanbi was buried on same day noticed that the grave had been tampered with.”
The source narrated further that “Penultimate Tuesday also, the duo suspects arrived the village on another mission and Amosa who was suspicious of the suspects, alerted other members of the community.
“Penultimate Wednesday, the duo of Ogunnaike and Tajudeen went to another grave and were trying to exhume another dead body when they were caught in the act. While the suspects were trying to escape, one of the heads which they had cut of fell. It was discovered that the head was that of the late village head. They left their motorcycle and escaped.
The source added that after the case had been reported there was a manhunt for the alleged criminals, which led to arrest of Seyi Ogunnaike by the police.
“The case was transfered to state Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department at the Police headquarters, Ilorin for discreet investigation which led to the arrest of Kamaldeen Azeez, who is an accomplice in the crime.
“A Search conducted in the house of Ogunnaike led to the recovery of criminal charms, pots and grinding stone. Also, the police officers discovered a pair of brown leather slippers belonging to the herbalist at the crime scene.”
The source further stated that during investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime, saying that “Investigation is still on, as the criminals are working with police to arrest Tajudeen, who is at large.”
When contacted on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi said he was not aware of the case.
In a related development, a 40-yr-old herbalist, Surajudeen Wahab of Sakele, Ilorin, Kwara State capital is cooling his heels in police net for being in possession of human bones.
According to a police source, one Kola Olabintan of Sakele community reported that, unknown person came to Sakele Area threatening to cause havoc in the community if the suspect, wahab didn’t pay him the sum of N7,000.
“Olabintan said that the unknown person alleged that the suspects deal in human parts. This made the chairman of the community to challenge the suspect who admitted that he owed the unknown person the amount and when he couldn’t pay back the person requested that he should get him human head.
“When the suspect’s house was searched recovered criminal charms and some bones suspected to be humans’. Investigation on the matter is ongoing.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi on the development said he is yet to be briefed.