A suspected ritualist, Yusuf Adinohi, was arrested on Tuesday by operatives of the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly being in possession of eight skulls as well as other fetish items.
The 37-year-old suspect was apprehended at Isua-Akoko, headquarters of the Akoko South East Local Council area of Ondo State, while on transit through the state to Osogbo, Osun State.
Adinohi, who was coming from Okene in Kogi State, was nabbed after the commercial vehicle he was travelling in with registration number LKJ 148 AJ was stopped.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, “He was stopped at the checkpoint on the ‘Stop and Search’ exercise by the security operatives.
“However, in the course of searching the vehicle, the operatives discovered eight smelling dried human skulls hidden inside a sac bag of gari and one other big aluminum basin of gari, respectively, and a handful of some charms and amulets.
“Upon investigation, one of the passengers of the vehicle, Yusuf Adinohi, who was about 37 years old, admitted being the owner of the eight smelly dry skulls and that he was going to Osogbo around the Oke-Onitea area to deliver the human skulls to one Opeifa, an herbalist.
“He equally mentioned other customers he usually supplies human skulls to, to include Almonsoo, who lives in Oke-Onitea; Osogbo; Alfaa Agba, who lives in Oke Ontea; and also Oshoyemi, who resides around the Oja Oba area.”
On his part, the suspect said, “This will be my third time in this business. The first trip, I sold four, the second time, three, and the latest one, which is eight. This flesh comprises both human parts and a dog heart. I bought the dog heart at Ibilo.
“For the skull, I usually buy it from my friend, Ismaila, who usually gets them from burial grounds. Before I ventured into this business, I was buying red oil and cashew nuts and reselling them.
“My mother has been sick; we took her to Lokoja, and the doctor said we needed two million naira to revive her, so I had no choice but to venture into the skull business. My intention was to leave the business once I gathered the money.
“So far, from the seven that I had sold, I’ve made N245,000. I actually sold them to different people. I met the buyer on Facebook. He told me that he’s a herbalist.”
