20 corpses of ritual victims uncovered in Oyo

Thousands of curious residents flooded yesterday the “evil forest” where dying men and women, human skulls, and decomposing bodies were found.

The crowds started to throng the site as early as 8:00 am, increasing by the hour till nightfall when visibility became poor.

The entrance of the site (in Soka) from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was also fortified by armed policemen who stationed three patrol vans at the site.

People screamed continuously on seeing human skulls and other body parts in the expansive forest.

Some youths insisted that more victims were still trapped in an underground apartment where victims were murdered.

Angry youths carrying logs led others to several areas of the site to see the human parts. They vowed to maim any of the perpetrators who may be found in the bush but none was seen.

Ten survivors found in the forest are receiving medical attention at the State Hospital, Adeoyo, Yemetu, Ibadan.

The surging crowd, wielding cutlasses, clubs, shovels and iron rods insisted on demolishing the abandoned buildings, formerly used by factories.

The police fired teargas to ward off the crowd.

Speaking on the Saturday discovery, the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Hon. Abass Aleshinloye, who witnessed the evacuation of the kidnapped persons on Saturday, described the action of the captors as criminal, adding that the matter is being handled by the police.

“I can’t stand the gory sight; it’s horrible. What we only did was to arrange for an ambulance to take the survivors to Adeoyo , Yemetu State Hospital for urgent medical attention. So, I believe the state government has taken over the matter,” the council boss said.

There was tension in Soka, with youths combing the bush.

No fewer than 20 decomposed human bodies were either dumped in a ditch or thrown underneath the damaged heavy equipment that were also abandoned at the site.

Also at the site were various parts of human bodies, including skulls, bones and hands.

A hall within the building was also full of personal effects, such as clothes, shoes and necklaces.

Some abandoned vehicles on the site were also full of wearing apparels which residents said might belong to the victims.

Most of the apparels are ladies’.

Residents called for the demolition of all the structures on the site, insisting that there could be more human beings trapped underground.

Some of the residents have also constituted themselves into monitoring groups at the site, combing the bush for another possible discovery.

A one-time member of defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) Alhaji Kayode Adekojo, told reporters that until the government discourage capital flight from Nigeria, the urge and lust for money will always lead people with criminal mind to carry out bizarre incidents such as seen on the ‘Soka’ gory site.

“The lust for money can lead to any ungodly act, such as the one we are witnessing now. For God’s sake, how can human beings do this to their fellow human beings, killing and dumping them and selling their parts. I will urge the Federal Government to stop capital flight. The government should not allow people to keep money abroad. When this is done, people will not be pushed into carrying out dastardly acts like this.”

A resident of the area, Wale Rasheed urged the government to increase security in the state, particularly among abandoned sites and isolated buildings.

The police confirmed the arrest of six men, including five security men in nearby companies, in connection with the incident, adding that three dane guns, three single barrel guns, one bow, 16 arrows, 22 cutlasses, 40 live cartridges, seven table knives, one axe and two iron bars are among items recovered from the scene.

Police Spokesperson Bisi Clet Ilobane, a superintendent of police (SP) said five persons, two women and three men – were rescued from the site.