Crime

Suspected Grave Robbers Confess how they Get Human Head and Sell for N5000

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 18th, 2024.

Suspected Grave Robbers Confess how they Get Human Head and Sell for N5000

Two men arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, for possessing a human head allegedly exhumed from a grave have revealed that they were paid N5,000 for each head they retrieved. The suspects, Mustapha Bello and Damilare Oladele, were detained by the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), also known as Amotekun.

The incident unfolded early Monday when a night guard noticed Bello carrying a suspicious bag in the Alaoji area of Aba. When the guard confronted Bello, a struggle ensued, allowing Oladele to escape. Bello was subdued and handed over to Amotekun for further investigation.

Following the arrest, a local law enforcement officer, who recognized Bello’s association with Oladele, suspected him of being involved in the grave robbery. This led to a confrontation and eventual confession by Oladele, who was also transferred to Amotekun.

In his confession, Bello, a 32-year-old carpenter from Labo area, explained, “I went with my accomplice to exhume a body and remove the head at Amuloko. Saheed, who introduced me to this work, would sell the heads and pay me N5,000. During the last operation, I was caught carrying the head when a local vigilante stopped me. My partner managed to flee.”

Oladele, a 25-year-old barber from Oranyan, detailed his role: “I began working with Mustapha in February. My job was to keep watch while he dug up the grave. We typically began our operations around midnight, and after removing the head, Mustapha would hide it and later sell it. I was paid N5,000 per head, occasionally N10,000 for fresh ones.”

Oladele described their method: “We would arrive at the site around 10 pm and start work after midnight. After Mustapha hid the head, we would wait until dawn before returning home. The last operation in Amuloko was informed by someone named Afaa, who told us the body was recently buried.”

Oladele recounted his arrest: “I went back to my shop and later learned Mustapha had been captured. Saheed, who had introduced Mustapha to this trade, stopped participating but continued to handle the sale of the heads. When I returned to my shop, I was recognized by a security officer who linked me to Mustapha’s arrest. I was subsequently beaten by the crowd and handed