The police command in Lagos State has apprehended four suspects allegedly involved in the possession and sale of human body parts in Lagos.

The he suspects aged between 34, 44, 46 and 48 were apprehended in March by detectives of Adeniji Adele Divisional Police Station.

The principal suspect, a 46-year-old alleged supplier of the human parts, was intercepted with suspected human body parts during a stop-and-search operation on Bamgbose Street in the Lagos Island area.

A police source said on Wednesday that the principal suspect claimed he obtained the dead body at Adeniji Adele under bridge.

“He said that he searches for dead bodies and picks up abandoned human remains from various locations across the state and cut the body into pieces for sale.

“The suspect revealed that he sells the human parts for N10,000 to buyers who use them for ritual purposes. He also claimed to use the bodies to prepare black soap, which he sells to people seeking God’s mercy, good luck, favour, and other perceived spiritual benefits, ” the source said.

It was gathered that the principal suspect’s confession led to the arrest of the other three suspects, who were identified as buyers in the illegal trade.

The suspects, who admitted to purchasing human parts and flesh, said that the parts were supplied through a network of individuals, with certain accomplices currently at large.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatal Tijani, ordered that the case be transferred from to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Dayo Akinbisehin, said that the corpse recovered from the principal suspect had been deposited in a morgue

He said that investigations had been concluded, and the suspects would be charged to court.

According to him, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to tackling criminal networks and warned that anyone found engaging in such unlawful activities would face the full weight of the law.

Mr Akinbisehin also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies. 

(NAN)