The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered human body parts concealed inside buildings disguised as parishes of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Kobape town and along Abiola Way in Abeokuta, the state capital.
This discovery followed the arrest of three suspects: Sunday Akintobi, Oladimeji Olaniran, and Isaiah Tijani.
They were apprehended on Tuesday, 22 April, 2025, in different parts of Abeokuta, allegedly in possession of various human parts.
Spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, who revealed this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online on Friday,25 April, 2025 disclosed that the arrests were made by operatives of the command’s SWAT unit, acting on credible intelligence.
“On April 22, 2025, at about 8am, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command, through its SWAT unit, acted on credible intelligence and apprehended one Sunday Akintobi (male, 36 years), a resident of the Itoku area in Abeokuta, suspected of trading in human body parts.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of two additional individuals: Oladimeji Olaniran (male, 40 years) and Isaiah Tijani (male, 38 years).
“A search of their residences led to the recovery of body parts believed to be human remains,” Odutola stated.
Among the discoveries, she said, were skeletal bones and other body parts recovered from buildings falsely presenting themselves as places of worship.
“The buildings were disguised as Cherubim and Seraphim Churches located in Kobape town and along Abiola Way,” Odutola added.
In response, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a discreet and thorough investigation to determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement.
“As a friendly force, the Ogun State Police Command urges the public to refrain from shielding criminal elements and to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.
“Such cooperation is crucial in curbing ritual killings and other violent crimes in the state,” Odutola stated.
She also noted that the CP, who ”remained resolute to stem the tide of crimes”, had mandated expert forensic examinations in line with confessions made by the suspects.
“He [CP Ogunlowo] has also made it clear that relatives of deceased should secure graveyards of their loved ones in the best way possible to repress grave robbers,” Odutola said.
Furthermore, the police urged families to take extra precautions in securing the graves of their loved ones.
