By Deborah Nnamdi
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three men in Ibadan for allegedly possessing and selling suspected human parts following a stop-and-search operation in the city.
The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, who disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during a routine patrol along the Adekile area of Agugu.
According to the statement, a patrol team intercepted an unregistered Bajaj Boxer motorcycle during the operation. Upon searching, officers reportedly discovered a package containing flesh suspected to be human parts, believed to be an intestine, on the pillion rider.
“The rider was apprehended on the spot, and a package containing flesh suspected to be human parts (intestine) was recovered,” the statement said.
The suspect, identified as Oyategbe Joseph, was immediately taken into custody and interrogated. Police said he confessed to obtaining the suspected human parts from an unidentified individual in the Oritaperin area of Ibadan.
He further allegedly admitted to selling the items to two individuals — Alfa Onaolapo Taiwo, 46, and Pastor Ayodele Taiwo, 55.
Acting on the information provided, the police swiftly arrested the two men and brought them in for questioning. According to the statement, both suspects confessed to purchasing the suspected human parts from Oyategbe Joseph.
The Commissioner of Police for Oyo State has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for what the command described as a discreet and thorough investigation. The police added that all three suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The suspects remain in custody.
The Oyo State Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any information regarding the possession or sale of human parts to the nearest police station, stressing that community cooperation is vital to maintaining law and order.
