A54-year-old man identified as Adelani Oriyomi, has been apprehended by men of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, otherwise known as So-Safe Corps, while allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull at a tomb in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State at about 2.35am on January 21, 2025.
A statement issued by the Commander of So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzallo, through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf. says the officers of the So-Safe Corps on routine patrol observed suspicious activity on a parcel of land behind a church but that the suspect went to hide to avoid being caught. Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene, apprehending him before he could escape.
Ganzallo revealed that the suspect, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Oriyomi admitted that on January 18, 2025, he had exhumed a skull from a tomb on a plot of land behind his residence.
According to the statement, the suspect confessed that he was attempting to retrieve another skull to complete the number required for a money ritual preparation known as Osole.
Oriyomi further disclosed that he had hidden the first skull in his room. The suspect also confessed to being a seasoned offender, having sold nearly ten skulls in the past.
He revealed that previous arrests for similar offenses committed at Ado-Odo led to two years of imprisonment and a further six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Center, following another conviction in Obada-Oko.
Commander Ganzallo confirmed that the suspect and the recovered exhibit, a fully dried human skull, have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Obada Divisional headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.