By Lateef Dada
Osogbo
Osun state Police Command yesterday paraded two teenagers suspected to be ritualists.
The suspects were said to have been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of being herbalists.
The suspects, Yusuf Taofeek and Jimoh Sherif, were paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Fimihan Adeoye, who disclosed that they were arrested on October 6 through a tip-off of credible intelligence.
“The syndicates specialise in duping and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public under the pretence of being herbalists. Investigations led to the discovery of their shrine at Isangbe village in Ifon-osun, where outrageous numbers of statues made of cement, carved wood, foams, assorted charms, cloths, empty schnapps bottles used for sacrifice were found. We also discovered some items containing snakes and lizards.
“One of the moveable statues was removed to be tendered as exhibit. Also arrested is Yusuf Taofeek, 21, whom we met hiding in the ceiling of the house of Sehidu Aliu (aka Alaga), the zone II gang leader, with a cutlass.
“Other items recovered from the suspects are one unregistered Toyota Camry saloon car and 2 Bajaj boxer motorcycles. Fifteen other members of the syndicate are at large. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
The police boss appreciated members of the public for their cooperation, and appealed to them to continue to give the police useful information that could help in making Osun a crime-free state.
