I Never Knew It's an Offence, Says Herbalist Caught with Human Skull

By Izunna Okafor 

Barely four months after a herbalist was caught with Human skull in Lagos, and less than one month after another was caught in Delta with human skull; another herbalist has been caught with human skull in Osun State.

The 38-year-old herbalist, Semiu Oyewo, who was allegedly arrested along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road with dry human skull claimed he had no knowledge that it is an offence to ppssess human skull.

Paraded in Osogbo by the Osun State Police Command, the herbalist who is also a native doctor claimed that the skull was meant for treating someone who is suffering chronic daily headaches.

Parading the suspects at the state police command n Osogbo, the State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, said the herbalist, Oyewo was apprehended along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road with one human skull, snail and voodoo.

"On July 7, 2021 around 8am, the police patrol team on routine highway patrol along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road, intercepted one Honda Accord vehicle with Reg. No. AGL 412 CD black colour driven by the suspect a 38-year-old man, Semiu Oyewo of Alamole area, Ondo road, Ile-Ife, searched the vehicle and recovered the exhibits.”

When interviewed, the suspect told journalists that, “I am an herbalist, I didn’t know that having possession of dry skull is an offence. I even fought with the mobile police that arrested me. I want to use it to treat someone who is suffering chronic headache,” he said.

He said during the course of investigation and interrogation, the suspect confessed that, he is an herbalist and bought the suspected human skull from his co-herbalist one Ige aka Igwe of Apomu who had absconded.

While speaking the CP said “The said suspected human skull was bargained for twenty five thousand naira only (N25, 000.00) while he paid twenty thousand naira only (N20, 000.00) to later balance five thousand naira only (N5, 000.00)

The Police navigated its investigation to the house of the arrested suspected and recovered various ‘Juju’ and fetish items which they hid in the bush.”

The police boss said the gang of bag snatchers who were also robbing POS outlet were arrested on July 5, 2021 after receiving a distress call at Owode Ede area.