Police in Oyo State has arrested 10 suspected dealers in human parts and recovered suspected human remains and charms during separate operations in Iseyin and Saki areas of the state.
The spokesman of the command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Ibadan.
According to Ayanlade, the arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and discreet surveillance carried out by operatives attached to the command’s monitoring unit.
He said the suspects were arrested at different hideouts in the two locations following the intelligence-led operation.
“Following their arrest, operatives conducted searches of the suspects’ hideouts, during which several suspected human parts were recovered.
“The exhibits include one suspected human heart, human flesh, pieces of human skull and assorted charms,” he said.
Ayanlade explained that the recovered exhibits had been secured and would undergo forensic analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.
He added that the suspects were cooperating with investigators as the police sought to establish the source of the suspected human parts, how they were obtained and their intended purpose.
The police spokesman said the command was also intensifying efforts to track down other individuals allegedly linked to the suspected syndicate.
Ayanlade said the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Abimbola Olugbenga, praised the officers involved in the operation for their diligence, professionalism and reliance on intelligence.
He quoted the commissioner of Police as assuring members of the public that the command remains resolute in its determination to rid the state of criminal elements and protect the sanctity of human life.
The police command urged members of the public to continue providing useful information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and apprehending suspects.
