A 26-year-old suspected ritualist and fraudster, Franklin Akinyosuyi, arrested with human head and other parts, said he uses the skull to attract customers.
The suspect was arrested by operatives of Police’s anti-crime squad attached to Funmbi-Fagun police Station in Ondo town, South West Nigeria.
Akinyosuyi, who was paraded with five other suspects on Sunday, said his business was threatened by low patronage and he had to take measures bring back his patrons.
He told newsmen that the human head was discovered in his rented apartment located in Elewuro area of the community.
The suspect exonerated the landlord, saying he owned all the items found in the house.
According to him, he bought all the items from his herbalist who resides in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government area of Osun State.
According to Akinyosuyi, the photography business and his boutique were not doing well, as a result of which he was introduced to a herbalist in 2022.
He said that he paid N300,000 to the herbalist to make concoctions to spread the business.
“After he was done, he called me to come and pick it, that was last year November. He directed that I should be bathing with the human head every Thursday at exactly 1 am.
“I used it for a month but didn’t see any difference in my business. So, I had to call the herbalist and told him to refund my money.
“I also asked him to come and pick the human head as well but he refused to come. He started refunding my money because he already sent me N250,000.
“So, on that fateful day, I decided to go and throw it away, so I dropped it at my backyard. Unfortunately, I went out and before I could return, my landlord’s children saw it, informed their father and they ultimately called the police,” he said.
“After we were arrested, the herbalist claimed that he paid someone to get the human head,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, while giving details of the suspect, said the case was reported on Aug. 6.
She said the suspect claimed to be a photographer and boutique owner in Ondo town.
“The suspect was challenged by his landlord for keeping a bag in a corner of the compound and the landlord was suspicious and asked the young man to open the bag.
“When he did, a human skull was found in the bag. After he was arrested, he claimed it was given to him by a “native doctor” in Osun State.
“Further interrogation and investigation led to the arrest of one Oyegoke Dare, an evangelist, who gave the skull and other fetish materials to the suspect.
“One Oyelade Sarafa, a herbalist who also confessed to have helped in procuring the skull from one Asekun (a vigilante) in Ikirun, was also arrested.
Two other suspects mentioned in connection with the case are currently at large,” she said.
