The Lagos State Police Command has
arrested two suspected human parts dealers who allegedly bought and sold
human skulls in parts of Ogun and Lagos states.
Our correspondent learnt that the
suspects ─ Muritala Mustapha and Sunday Oluyeba ─ were arrested by the
Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command after a tip-off.
The police said 42-year-old Mustapha was
caught with two human heads in his house, adding that he confessed to
have obtained them from his friend, Oluyeba.
After the police had arrested Oluyeba,
44, he also told the SARS operatives that he got the skulls from one
herbalist, identified simply as Baba Ibeji, who the police said was
still at large.
During interrogation, the suspects, who
were also herbalists, confessed that they bought the human skulls for
N30,000 and used them to treat their patients.
Mustapha said the human parts could be used for the treatment of pregnant women having delivery problem.
He said, “I started out as native doctor
in 1992. That was after my secondary school education. I was treating
ailments such as diabetes, stroke, and hypertension. I treated barren
women too. I knew Oluyeba about three years ago. He is also a native
doctor. We paid N30,000 to obtain the human skulls from Baba Ibeji.
“I normally used the skulls to treat
pregnant women who had problem with child delivery. We would grind these
parts and mix them with some soap. That was all. On this particular
occasion, I did not know I was being followed by a police informant. It
was at the point of another purchase that they arrested me.”
Mustapha, a father of one, added that
there were other native doctors and traditional chiefs in his area who
bought human parts for healing.
Oluyeba, however, claimed to have bought the human parts for a friend and not for his use.
He said, “Yes, I collected money to get
the human parts, but it was not for my use. I am a native doctor, but I
use only herbs and soap. I knew Baba Ibeji as a human parts seller and I
had warned him on several occasions to desist from the evil trade, but
he refused.
“I am married. I have three children. I
cannot use human parts for any concoction. This is an embarrassment
caused by my friends.”
Meanwhile, Baba Ibeji’s wife, identified simply as Adenike, said her husband was not a responsible man at home.
The 35-year-old mother of two said, “I
only know him as a native doctor. I am his second wife. I sell
provisions, and he does hunting and native medicine. He does not have
money. He does not take care of his family. He has not given us money
for the past three months. So, I doubt if he is into such things.
Otherwise, we should be wealthy.”
