Police arrest Ondo priest over alleged sale of human skulls
From Niyi Bello, Akure
IT seems the day of reckoning has come for perpetrators of evil in the country as the police in Ondo State have arrested a priest (names withheld) of a local deity, Ayelala, and another suspect over alleged possession of human skulls.
Two human skulls at various stages of decomposition were recovered by the police in two different places in the state.
Addressing journalists yesterday on the incident, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Nwachukwu Egbochukwu, alleged that the priest removed and sold the skull of the late sister of one Olorunyomi of Lisia village, near Ore.
He did not give further details of the circumstances leading to the arrest of the priest or whether other priests were involved in the incident.
He said the suspect was already undergoing interrogation aimed at knowing the mystery surrounding the incident.
The Guardian learnt that very much similar to the role of the Okija Shrines, the Ayelala shrines in Ondo South dispense justice to criminals and adjudicate between aggrieved parties who come there.
Whether the on-going investigation on the matter may lead to a revelation of the Okija proportion, the police chief said he was not sure as what has so far been revealed was that the priest was suspected to have traded in human parts.
The police chief added that the other recovered skull was found at Ode-Irele, also in the Southern Senatorial District of the state last month.
According to him, "On July 27, 2004, an information was received that a man at Ode-Irele was in possession of human skull.
"On this tip-off, the police detectives moved to the scene but the said suspect on seeing the public, took to his heels, adding that in searching his house, a male suspect was seen and arrested.
He said that the police also recovered a human skull, one wooden box and some blood-stained clothes.
The commissioner said the skull was also suspected to have belonged to a victim of ritual murder, stressing that "the suspect will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed".
He also said efforts would be made by the police to ascertain the identity of the skulls to assist the police in their investigation.
