A 54-year-old ex-convict, Adelani Oriyomi, has been arrested by the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) for allegedly trying to dig up a human skull at a burial ground in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta.
The arrest reportedly occurred during a routine patrol by So-Safe Corps officers in the early hours of Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
In a statement released through Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf, the Corps’ Director of Information and Public Relations, Soji Ganzallo, the Commander of the So-Safe Corps, provided details of the incident.
According to the statement, officers on patrol noticed suspicious activity around 2:35 a.m. near a church on land used as a burial site. They discovered Oriyomi hiding after being caught attempting to dig. The statement added that Oriyomi resumed digging when he thought the area was clear, but the officers returned to apprehend him before he could flee.
During interrogation, Oriyomi, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, admitted to the crime. He confessed that he had exhumed a skull from a nearby tomb on January 18, 2025. He further revealed that he was trying to retrieve another skull to complete the number required for a money ritual called “Osole.”
The suspect also admitted to selling nearly 10 skulls in the past and disclosed a history of similar crimes. He stated that he had previously been arrested in Ado-Odo and served a two-year prison sentence. Additionally, he spent six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Centre for another conviction.
Ganzallo confirmed that Oriyomi and the evidence—a fully dried human skull—have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Obada Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Corps Commander advised community leaders to thoroughly vet tenants and visitors to avoid sheltering criminals. He emphasized that this precaution could improve security in homes, with the remainder relying on vigilance against external threats.
