Police arrest three ritualists, found 20 corpses at shrine  

The police have arrested three ritualists, storming a ritual shrine along Asoro slope, off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters, Benin City, Edo State.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, Jennifer Iwegbu, in a statement on Thursday, indicated that the police acted on information from members of the public.

She revealed that operatives of the Edo State Police Command recovered 20 corpses from the shrine.

Jennifer Iwegbu identified the suspects as Chimaobi Okoewu, Oko Samuel, both from Afikpo, Ebonyi State, and Gideon Sunday. The DPPRO said that the Police are making efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects in connection with the crime.

Jennifer Iwegbu highlighted that of the 20 recovered corpses, 15 are males, three females and two children.

The statement read: “Following credible information that some corpses were discovered in a building along Asoro slope off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters, Benin city, Operatives of the command immediately mobilised to the scene.

“At the scene, three suspects, Chimaobi Okoewu ‘M’ and Oko Samuel ‘M’ both of Afikpo in Ebonyi and Gideon Sunday ‘M’ of Akwa-Ibom State were arrested while others fled. An intensive effort is ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects.

“15 mummified male corpses, 3 mummified female corpses and 2 mummified children’s corpses were discovered at the scene.”

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to carry out a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the discovered corpses.

He equally called on the general public to be calm; assuring that the Police Command will continue to ensure the safety of all law-abiding citizens and those residing in the state.