Police find body parts of poly student in ritualists’ den

The police in Ogun have uncovered a shrine located in a bush in Eposo, Remo North Local Gov­ernment Area of the state where a 21-year-old polytechnic student, Morenikeji Owolabi was allegedly killed for ritual purposes.

The already boiled dis­membered body suspected to be that of Owolabi said to be a final year student of Science Laboratory Tech­nology of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Sapade were also discovered in a tray inside the shrine.

An organ suspected to be the victim’s heart was con­spicuously placed inside the tray, while some others were placed in a small cage grill outside, apparently be­ing prepared to be roasted.

The severed right leg of the murdered student was also discovered in a shal­low grave a few metres away from the shrine.

The shrine, from which oozed putrid stench of de­cayed human flesh, was littered with several other objects suspected to be hu­man body parts and person­al belongings of the victim.

The prime suspect iden­tified as Femi alias Awise, 35, who was said to be the priest in charge of the shrine, is however, on the run.
But five other suspects, including the commercial motorcycle rider alleged to have conveyed the mur­dered student to the shrine penultimate Saturday, are currently being held at the Isara Divisional Police Sta­tion.

Worried by the shock­ing discovery, hundreds of anxious residents of the area have been trooping to the area to catch a glimpse of the alleged ritualists’ den.

Conducting newsmen round the scene of the crime, the state Commis­sioner of Police, Mr. Valen­tine Ntomchukwu said the victim, who was declared missing few weeks ago was eventually traced to the shrine by the police.

Ntomchukwu said the ar­rest of the commercial mo­torcycle rider, who brought the lady to the shrine led to its discovery.

According to the state police boss: “Today we are here in Eposo village in Remo North Local Gov­ernment. We are here to tell you about a shrine that has been located where a 21-year-old girl of Gate­way ICT Polytechnic, Sa­pade, was declared missing a few weeks ago.

“Through discreet inves­tigation and information, we were able to trace the missing girl to this particu­lar shrine where the native doctor and those we shall show you later at the police station, conspired, abduct­ed the girl and came here where they killed her and dismembered her body for ritual purposes.