Police arrest man with fresh human head and palms in Ogun, nab others over stolen Lexus

Cityscope, Crime Diary

ABEOKUTA, Nigeria — 18 April 2026 (NPA) — The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 43-year-old man, identified as Idowu Ashafa, for allegedly being in possession of a fresh human head and two severed palms concealed in a nylon bag in Igbesa area of the state.

The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of 17 April 2026 by operatives of the Igbesa Division during a routine patrol supervised by the Area Commander, ACP Folashade Tanaruno. Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed that the arrest followed a stop-and-search operation led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Solotan K. Owolabi.

Preliminary investigations, according to the police, indicate that the suspect allegedly exhumed the human remains from a grave at Ido Itekun Village in Igbesa for suspected ritual purposes. Authorities said the implement used in carrying out the act has been recovered, while the scene of the incident has been visited and documented. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

In a separate development, operatives of the Ibafo Division have arrested three suspects over the theft of a vehicle and successfully recovered the stolen car. The suspects—Obada Ezekiel, 27; Emmanuel Timothy, 25; and Yaya Yakubu, 27—were apprehended on 18 April 2026 following a credible tip-off that led police to their hideout within the Ibafo axis.

Police investigations revealed that Obada Ezekiel, a private security guard attached to the vehicle, allegedly conspired with the two others to steal the ash-coloured Lexus RX 300 SUV from Lagos and move it to Ibafo for disposal. The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to be transferred to the SCID in Abeokuta for further investigation and prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the operatives for their swift response and effective use of intelligence, which led to the arrests and recovery. He also appreciated members of the public for providing timely information and reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led policing.

The police assured residents of continued efforts to protect lives and property, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through official emergency channels.