Police from Nigeria detained Abdulrahman Woru, 38, a suspected ritualist from the neighbouring Republic of Benin, at the New Bussa Divisional Headquarters in the Borgu local government area of Niger State.
A human skull, three parts of what appeared to be human ribs, two idols, and 5,000 CFA (the currency of the Benin Republic) in cash were reportedly discovered in his possession when his residence in the Babana neighbourhood of the Council was examined.
The suspect allegedly claimed to be from the Benin Republic's Gbesewona village. According to reports, he was apprehended on January 24, 2023, at around 1400 hours, by police from the New-Bussa Divisional Hqtrs of the state Police Command after they received a tip from concerned locals (names withheld).
The suspect was detained over the weekend, according to DSP Wasiu Abiodun, the police public relations officer of the state police command, who spoke to the media in Minna, the capital of Niger State. According to him, police from the New-Bussa Div. detained Abdulrahman Woru, 38, who is from the Benin Republic's Gbesewona village but now resides in the Babana neighbourhood of the Borgu LGA.
A human skull, three suspected human ribs, two idols, and 5000 CFA in cash from the Benin Republic were discovered during a search of the suspect's home, according to Abiodun. The suspect was detained in Babana after being suspected of having a human skull.
The statement further said that when he was questioned, he acknowledged that the human skull that had been discovered on him belonged to him.
“He claimed that he migrated from Benin Republic to Nigeria about four years ago for his business, without any immigration document, and that he is a traditional medicine practitioner.
“He further claimed that he recently travelled to the Benin Republic and while on his way coming back, before entering Nigeria, he saw a bag on the road, picked and checked, and discovered the skull,,” said the PPRO, Wasiu Abiodun, a DSP.
The Police Image Maker also said that the suspect was quoted as saying, “he (the suspect) tied it on his motorcycle and took it home, because he believed it will be useful for his work, and he did not report to the Police.”
In any case, the statement guaranteed that the suspect would shortly be brought before a court of law for prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police for the Niger State Command, CP Ogundele J. Ayodeji, has thanked the people of Niger and the public for their help.
The Police chief, therefore, encouraged Nigerians residing in the state not to cease contacting the police anytime they observe anything out of the ordinary in their surroundings so that law enforcement officials can intervene swiftly.