In a chilling development, the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-Safe Corps, has apprehended a 54-year-old ex-convict, Adelani Oriyomi, for allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull from a burial ground in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The shocking incident, which has sent ripples through the community, was disclosed in a press statement issued on Tuesday by So-Safe Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo. The statement, released through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf, detailed the bizarre arrest and the suspect’s startling confession.
According to the statement, officers on routine patrol observed suspicious activity at about 2:35 a.m. on January 21, 2025, in a parcel of land behind a church in the area. The patrol team spotted Oriyomi lurking near the burial site, attempting to hide. Once the officers moved on, he resumed digging, allegedly targeting a grave to retrieve a human skull.
However, in a dramatic twist, the officers circled back to the scene, catching him in the act before he could make his escape. Oriyomi, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, was immediately apprehended and taken into custody.
Further investigation revealed that this was not his first foray into such macabre activities. Oriyomi reportedly confessed during interrogation that he had previously exhumed a human skull from a tomb near his residence on January 18, 2025. The motive behind his ghoulish actions remains under scrutiny, with law enforcement officials suspecting possible involvement in ritualistic activities.
The arrest has sparked outrage and fear among residents, who are now demanding tighter security measures around cemeteries in the area. Many have expressed shock at the suspect’s brazenness and the eerie nature of his crime, which they believe is symptomatic of a deeper societal problem tied to ritualistic practices.
Commander Soji Ganzallo assured the public of the Corps’ unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and properties, reiterating that individuals involved in such heinous acts would face the full wrath of the law.
As investigations continue, the spotlight remains on the unsettling prevalence of ritual-related crimes in parts of Nigeria, raising urgent questions about the social and cultural factors fueling such acts. For now, Adelani Oriyomi’s arrest serves as a grim reminder of the dark underbelly of society and the ongoing efforts to root out criminality in all its forms.
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