The Kwara State Police Command has arrested four men in connection with two separate investigations involving the alleged removal of human heads from graves and the possession of suspected human hands reportedly intended for money-making rituals. The arrests followed investigations into the disturbance of burial sites and the recovery of suspected human remains, with police seeking to establish how the body parts were obtained and whether additional individuals were involved.
Commissioner of Police Ojo Adekimi disclosed the developments during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ilorin on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. He identified the four arrested men as Abu Jimoh, Ayo Jimoh, Kamalden Lukmon and AbdulGaniyu Ibrahim, explaining that the arrests occurred on October 8 in separate operations at Omupo and Alapa in Kwara State. The commissioner said investigations were continuing and that the suspects would be prosecuted upon completion of the necessary procedures.
In the first case, police arrested Abu Jimoh and Ayo Jimoh over allegations that they unlawfully entered a cemetery in Omupo, disturbed graves and removed the heads of previously buried individuals. The investigation began in May 2026 after residents visiting the burial ground to inter a deceased person discovered that some graves had been opened and that the heads of bodies buried there were missing.
The discovery prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disturbance of the graves. According to Adekimi, officers gathered intelligence over several months before apprehending the two men at approximately 5 a.m. on October 8. The suspects were allegedly found digging graves within the same cemetery, providing investigators with grounds to question them about the earlier discoveries.
Adekimi explained that the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation targeting the suspected removal of human remains from the burial ground. He said officers had been working to identify those responsible since the initial discovery in May. The command has not publicly established the total number of graves disturbed or the number of human heads allegedly removed.
During questioning, the two suspects reportedly admitted involvement in the alleged activities and identified a herbalist, Mukaila Bello, as the person who purchased the missing human heads. The police subsequently named Bello in connection with the investigation, although the information released did not establish whether he had been arrested or formally charged.
The alleged confession remains part of the police account and has not been tested in court. Investigators are expected to examine the statements alongside other available evidence before determining the appropriate charges. The command has also not disclosed whether the missing heads have been recovered or whether forensic examinations have established the identities of the deceased persons.
The Omupo investigation raises questions about the security of burial grounds and the protection of human remains after interment. The discovery of disturbed graves by residents attending a burial ceremony brought the alleged activities to the attention of authorities. Police have not disclosed whether the cemetery had previously experienced similar incidents or whether security arrangements were in place when the graves were allegedly opened.
In the second case, officers arrested Kamalden Lukmon and AbdulGaniyu Ibrahim after recovering two suspected human hands during an operation along Bakase Road in Alapa, Asa Local Government Area. The arrests occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on October 8, several hours after the operation at the Omupo cemetery. Police described the recovery as a separate investigation involving suspected possession of human body parts.
According to Adekimi, preliminary questioning indicated that the two men allegedly intended to use the recovered items for money-making rituals. The commissioner said investigators were examining both the suspected purpose of the items and the circumstances under which the men came into possession of them. No scientific evidence establishing any supernatural or financial effect from such practices was presented.
The suspects reportedly told investigators that a vigilante member, identified as Abdulraf Apata, had supplied the suspected human hands. Police said the allegation was being examined to determine whether Apata had any involvement and whether other individuals participated in obtaining or transferring the remains. The command did not confirm that Apata had been arrested.
The police account has not established the original source of the suspected human hands. Investigators are working to determine whether the remains belonged to a deceased person and, if so, the circumstances surrounding that person's death. The available information also does not establish whether the remains were obtained through grave disturbance, another unlawful activity or circumstances yet to be determined.
Lukmon and Ibrahim were being held at the command's Violent Crimes Response Unit while investigations continued. Police said officers were seeking evidence that could clarify the origin of the recovered items and identify any other individuals connected to their possession. The command has not announced the completion of forensic examinations or confirmed the identity of a possible victim.
Although both investigations concern suspected human remains, the police presented them as separate cases. The Omupo investigation centres on allegations of grave exhumation and the removal of heads from buried bodies, while the Alapa case concerns possession of suspected human hands. Authorities have not established any operational connection between the two incidents or identified a common supplier.
The commissioner said the investigations would continue until officers had gathered sufficient evidence to determine the involvement of the suspects and other persons mentioned during questioning. The command indicated that those against whom a case was established would be brought before a competent court. No conviction has been reported in connection with the latest arrests.
The allegations involve conduct that may raise issues under criminal laws governing the treatment of human remains, unlawful interference with burial grounds and related offences. However, the precise charges will depend on the evidence gathered and the legal provisions considered applicable by prosecutors. The description of an alleged ritual purpose does not itself establish that a criminal offence has been proven.
The investigation also requires authorities to distinguish between statements reportedly made during interrogation and independently established facts. While police have disclosed alleged admissions and identified additional persons for investigation, those statements remain subject to verification. The suspects and individuals named in the inquiries retain their legal rights, including the presumption of innocence.
The two operations have drawn attention to the need for credible information concerning suspected criminal activities involving burial grounds and human remains. Police investigations may involve identifying the deceased, examining recovered materials and establishing how the items were transferred between individuals. The command has not provided a timetable for completing those inquiries or announced a date for the suspects' first court appearance.
For residents of the affected communities, the confirmed development is that four men have been arrested and that investigations remain active. The allegations concerning the missing heads, the recovered hands and the involvement of other individuals have yet to be determined by a court. Further findings from the police will be necessary to establish the full circumstances surrounding both cases.
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