 |
| Items found at the spot |
The Oyo State Police Command, on Monday, dispelled the rumour of the discovery of an underground ritualists’ den in the Benjamin, Eleyele area of Ibadan.
In 2014, the police discovered a ritualists’ den at the Soka area of Ibadan, where scores of corpses were discovered and several other victims were found in terrible conditions.
Rumours of the discovery of a fresh underground tunnel allegedly being used for ritual purposes hit the city on Sunday and had spread by Monday, with residents trooping to the area to catch a glimpse of the tunnel.
During a visit to the area, it was discovered that the supposed ritualists’ tunnel was for the control of flood on the Dugbe/Eleyele Road, few metres from the Oyo State Police Command headquarters.
Female underwear and other items, which appeared to be like charms, littered the tunnel area, fuelling suspicion that illegal activities were going on in the area before the discovery.
Sources in the area said that unnamed security personnel had come to raid the tunnel and caught a man allegedly in possession of human parts.
The tunnel leads to an abandoned filing station on the road, where other items, including brassieres, were seen.
A motorcyclist, who pleaded anonymity, said that policemen were at the scene to arrest the suspected ritualists.
He said “I have been plying this route for a while and you can never believe that something like this was here. People have been gathering here since morning.
“They found people there with human parts. The police came and found people inside the hole. They took the suspects away. One of them was looking like a mentally ill man, but he was just disguising so that he could continue to perpetrate his evil acts without attracting suspicion.”
However, the acting police spokesman for the state, Akeem Adeyemo, said he had made calls to the Divisional Police Officer close to the area to authenticate the claim but found out that it was not true.
He said, “Some mentally ill people were seen around the area by passersby, who suspected that they could be ritualists. They pounced on the men and started beating them. On investigation, it was discovered that they were mere destitute and they were later arrested.
“It was a false alarm, which should be discountenanced.”
In 2014, the police discovered a ritualists’ den at the Soka area of Ibadan, where scores of corpses were discovered and several other victims were found in terrible conditions.
Rumours of the discovery of a fresh underground tunnel allegedly being used for ritual purposes hit the city on Sunday and had spread by Monday, with residents trooping to the area to catch a glimpse of the tunnel.
During a visit to the area, it was discovered that the supposed ritualists’ tunnel was for the control of flood on the Dugbe/Eleyele Road, few metres from the Oyo State Police Command headquarters.
Female underwear and other items, which appeared to be like charms, littered the tunnel area, fuelling suspicion that illegal activities were going on in the area before the discovery.
Sources in the area said that unnamed security personnel had come to raid the tunnel and caught a man allegedly in possession of human parts.
The tunnel leads to an abandoned filing station on the road, where other items, including brassieres, were seen.
A motorcyclist, who pleaded anonymity, said that policemen were at the scene to arrest the suspected ritualists.
He said “I have been plying this route for a while and you can never believe that something like this was here. People have been gathering here since morning.
“They found people there with human parts. The police came and found people inside the hole. They took the suspects away. One of them was looking like a mentally ill man, but he was just disguising so that he could continue to perpetrate his evil acts without attracting suspicion.”
However, the acting police spokesman for the state, Akeem Adeyemo, said he had made calls to the Divisional Police Officer close to the area to authenticate the claim but found out that it was not true.
He said, “Some mentally ill people were seen around the area by passersby, who suspected that they could be ritualists. They pounced on the men and started beating them. On investigation, it was discovered that they were mere destitute and they were later arrested.
“It was a false alarm, which should be discountenanced.”
Tags
Crime