The Police in Ogun on Wednesday arrested a 77-year-old pastor, Samuel Babatunde and two other suspects in connection with the discovery of suspected human parts buried inside a church.
Babatunde is the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim
Church, Itedo Isinmi Ayo Parish, Egan Road in Iyana-Iyesi area of Ota in
Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun.
The state Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, who
paraded the pastor in Ota, told journalists that the discovery followed the
arrest on Saturday of a suspected serial kidnapper, Jeremiah Adeola.
He said, Adeola, 32, who specialised in kidnapping
children, confessed that the pastor of the white garment church was the
receiver of the abducted children.
The CP added that a 43-year-old herbalist, Haruna
Afolabi, was among the suspects, who allegedly buried the human parts at the
entrance of the church.
According to the police boss, operatives attached
to the police Area Command in Ota on Sunday received intelligence about Adeola
and arrested him.
Iliyasu said, “On the strength of the intelligence,
detectives from Ota Area Command were detailed to effect the arrest of the
suspect.
“At about 10.20 a.m. on Saturday, their efforts
paid off when the said Jeremiah Adeola was arrested.
“On interrogation, Adeola confessed being a serial
kidnapper and mentioned a prophet of a white garment church as the receiver of
the kidnapped children.
“Upon interrogation, Adeola was taken to the
house/church of the said prophet at Iyana-Iyesi Ota, where one Prophet Samuel
Babatunde, 77 years, the pastor in charge of the church and one Haruna Afolabi,
42 years, a traditional worshiper, were arrested.
“The floor of the church was dug as described by
the first suspect and parts suspected strongly to be human parts were dug out,”
Iliyasu said.
The commissioner said the police command would
conduct forensic investigation into the case.
He assured that all those found guilty of the crime
would be brought to justice, adding that Ogun State would never be a safe haven
for criminals.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the pastor
denied the allegation levelled against him.
Babatunde explained that a pig was buried alive
inside the church contrary to claims that human parts were buried there.
He said that he carried out the act in order to
bring good fortune, prosperity and comfort to his congregation.
Babatunde said though he met Adeola at a prayer
mountain in Ibadan, he never had any dealing with the alleged serial kidnapper,
whom he accused of being mentally unstable.
However, Adeola insisted that the pastor was the
receiver of some kidnapped children.
He said the cleric paid him N50,000 each for the
two children he supplied him.
NAN
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