The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a self-proclaimed Islamic cleric, identified as Alfa Bashiru, who was allegedly caught with suspected human flesh along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The arrest, which took place on Wednesday around the Toll Gate section of the busy highway, was announced in a statement released by the command on its official X account later that night.
According to the police, officers of the Federal Highway Patrol were carrying out a routine stop-and-search when they intercepted a white commercial bus with registration number XA 551 IRG at about 11:30 a.m. During the search, one of the passengers, later identified as Bashiru, was found with an item believed to be human flesh, a discovery that immediately drew the attention of the operatives.
When questioned, the suspect allegedly confessed that he had purchased the item in Lagos before boarding the vehicle heading toward Ibadan. Police authorities confirmed that he has since been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Iyaganku, Ibadan. He is currently being detained at the Homicide Section while forensic experts examine the substance to determine if it is indeed human flesh and to trace its possible origin.
The development has once again stirred public debate about the recurring issue of ritual-related crimes in Nigeria. Despite repeated warnings, arrests, and public outcry, cases involving human body parts continue to emerge across the country. In October 2024, for instance, three men were arrested in Lagos after being caught with suspected human parts, including tongues, during a stop-and-search operation at Otedola Bridge. The suspects, identified as Isah Amohullahi and Abubakar Isah among others, were intercepted by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad.
The Oyo State Police Command has assured that investigations into the latest incident will be thorough, while also urging members of the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activities within their communities.