Residents of Ibadan were thrown into shock after police operatives arrested a middle-aged Islamic cleric, identified as Alfa Basiru, at the Ibadan Toll Gate end of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. According to the Oyo State Police Command, the cleric was allegedly found in possession of items suspected to be human flesh during a routine stop-and-search operation.
The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a statement via the Command’s verified X (formerly Twitter) handle. He revealed that the discovery was made when the Federal Highway Patrol Team intercepted a Lagos-bound commercial bus with registration number XA 561 IRG. The items have since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State CID, Iyaganku, for further investigation, with forensic tests to determine their true nature.
In a separate but related development, the police also recovered an abandoned Toyota Camry during another stop-and-search operation. The driver, upon being flagged down, reportedly fled the scene on foot, leaving the vehicle behind. The car has been taken into police custody, while the Command has urged anyone with legitimate claims to come forward with proof of ownership.
Osifeso stressed that the stop-and-search operations currently ongoing across Oyo State are not for show, but strategic steps to maintain law and order, protect residents, and secure major highways. He assured the public that more details would be released as investigations progress.
