Police arrest graveward robbers, kill suspected kidnappers in Edo

Police have arrested members of a criminal gang known for robbing graveyards and selling off their body parts for ritual in Edo State.

Members of a criminal gang have been arrested by Edo state police command on Friday, May 6 for allegedly taking skulls from the grave and selling it off to herbalists for ritual purposes.

SP Bello Kontongs, Edo State Police Spokesman, confirmed the arrest in a statement released to the newsmen.

The statement read;

“On 06/05/2022 at about 10:30hrs, the operatives of the Edo State Police Command arrested a criminal gang that specializes in vandalizing vaults and graveyards to desecrate corpses and decimate their parts for commercial purposes.

“The leader of the gang is Josephine Adun ‘F’ (40) of Omono Street, Off Stadium Roadhouse, Benin City. Other members are Oyegoke Olushola ‘M’ (42) of N0. 82 Zomi-Zomi Street Off Upper Sakponba Road Benin City, Edo State who is the gang herbalist and Charity Goodluck ‘M’ (29) of Forestry Road, Ologbo who bought the skull for Forty Thousand Naira (N40,000.00).

“Saddened by this crime, the CP is calling on all Local Government Areas of the state and other agencies of government who are empowered in safeguarding the cemetery to do so, as activities of these criminals need to be checked before they constitute more nuisance in the society.”

Also, according to the statement, six alleged kidnappers were killed in a gunfight on May 11th, while police officers were combing Uzea Forest Uromi in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

On 11/05/2022 at about 07:45hrs, the operatives of the command in collaboration with local vigilante went on bush combing in an effort to track down, possibly arrest and recover arms from kidnap syndicates who are in Uzea Forest Uromi in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

“The kidnap syndicate sighting the team of operatives, engaged them in a heavy gun duel, but the superior firepower of the team led to the death of two members of the syndicate while four others that were initially arrested in Ugboha and Ubiaja who were leading the operatives to the syndicate hideout namely; Mohammed Amedu ‘M’ (29), Shaibu Lawal ‘M’ (30), Nasiru Mohammed ‘M’ (31) and Mohammed Ibrahim ‘M’ (28) sustained serious gunshot injuries during the encounter.

“The injured suspects were taken to hospital where they died while receiving treatment.

“The following items were recovered from them; one AK-47 rifle, one pump action gun, one double barrel, five live ammunition and one AK-47 magazine.”