A 54-year-old ex-convict, Adelani Oriyomi, has been arrested by the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) while allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta.
The So-Safe Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, disclosed the arrest in a press statement issued on Tuesday through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.
“At about 2:35 a.m. on January 21, 2025, officers of the So-Safe Corps on routine patrol observed suspicious activity on a parcel of land behind a church,” Ganzallo explained. “The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Adelani Oriyomi, was spotted trying to hide. Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene and apprehended him before he could escape.”
During interrogation, Oriyomi confessed to exhuming a skull from the same burial ground on January 18, 2025. He admitted that he was attempting to retrieve another skull to complete the number required for a money ritual known as ‘Osole.’
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The suspect also revealed a troubling history of similar offences. He admitted to selling nearly ten human skulls in the past and disclosed that he had previously served two years in prison for a related crime in Ado-Odo. Oriyomi further stated that he spent an additional six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Centre following another conviction in Obada-Oko.
The officers recovered a fully dried human skull at the scene of the crime. Ganzallo confirmed that the suspect and the recovered exhibit have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Obada Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.
In his statement, Ganzallo urged community leaders to thoroughly screen tenants and visitors to prevent harboring individuals involved in criminal activities. “Such vigilance can ensure 70% of home security, with the remaining 30% relying on alertness to external threats,” he emphasized.
This incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and proactive law enforcement in curbing criminal activities in Ogun State. The police have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to ensure justice is served.