The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered a shocking operation involving the storage of human body parts in buildings falsely presented as church branches in different areas of Abeokuta. The structures, made to look like Cherubim and Seraphim Church parishes, were discovered in Kobape town and along Abiola Way in the state capital.
The disturbing find came after the arrest of three men who were allegedly involved in the trafficking of human body parts. The suspects, identified as Sunday Akintobi, Oladimeji Olaniran, and Isaiah Tijani, were taken into custody on April 22, 2025.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit acted after receiving reliable intelligence. Their operation led to the arrest of Akintobi, a 36-year-old man from Itoku in Abeokuta. Subsequent investigations led to the capture of Olaniran, 40, and Tijani, 38.
Odutola explained that when the homes and properties linked to the suspects were searched, police recovered several disturbing items, including skeletal remains and other body parts. These were hidden within buildings that appeared to function as religious centers.
“The buildings were disguised as Cherubim and Seraphim Churches located in Kobape town and along Abiola Way,” she noted.
Following the discovery, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to begin a full investigation. The goal is to uncover how deeply the suspects are connected to the crime and whether more people may be involved.
Odutola added that CP Ogunlowo has also instructed forensic experts to examine the remains thoroughly, based on the confessions already gathered.
“He has also made it clear that relatives of deceased should secure graveyards of their loved ones in the best way possible to repress grave robbers,” she said.
The police command also used the opportunity to encourage the public to report any suspicious activities. “As a friendly force, the Ogun State Police Command urges the public to refrain from shielding criminal elements and to provide timely and credible information to security agencies,” Odutola stated.
