Outrage as police arrest three over alleged removal of human heads from graves

The police in Kwara state have arrested two brothers and a suspected herbalist over an allegation of digging up  graves and removal of human heads in Omupo, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, made this known  while presenting suspected criminals and ritualists to journalists at the police headquarters in Ilorin.

He said the case came to light in May 2026 when residents visited a cemetery to bury a dead person and discovered that several graves had been dug up, with the heads of the bodies missing.

According to him,  the suspects, identified as Abu Jimoh, Ayo Jimoh and Mukaila Bello, were arrested following an intelligence-led investigation.

Adekimi said the two brothers were arrested around 5am on October 8 while allegedly attempting to dig up another grave in the cemetery.

He added that the brothers reportedly confessed during interrogation and named Bello, a suspected herbalist, as the person who allegedly bought the removed body parts.

However, the police commissioner said the alleged human parts had not been recovered.

“We discovered that about nine graves had been exhumed without the heads of the bodies. The three of them have been arrested,” he said.

Adekimi also confirmed that the suspects were caught while allegedly attempting to dig up another grave. He disclosed that one of the brothers was physically challenged.

However, Ayo denied involvement in the alleged crime, claiming that they were chasing a rat when they were arrested.

He told Daily Trust that his brother followed a rat into the cemetery after it ran into a grave. According to him, he advised his brother to leave the cemetery but made the mistake of going closer to him.

Ayo, who said he was in his fifties and came from Ile Fayabale in Omupo, insisted that he had no involvement in the alleged removal of human heads.

His brother, Abu, also denied the allegation and gave a similar explanation. He claimed they were on their way to the farm when they saw a rat run into the cemetery.

Abu said his elder brother drew his attention to the animal but warned that following it into the cemetery could get them into trouble if anyone saw them.

Bello, who identified himself as a native doctor based in Ajase-Ipo, admitted knowing the two brothers but denied buying human body parts from them.

He claimed that his business dealings with the brothers were limited to buying wood from them and insisted that he knew nothing about their alleged activities.

The police said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations are completed.