The Edo State Police Command has uncovered a ritualist’s den with 20 mummified bodies, along Ekehuan Road-axis of Benin City.

Among the corpses discovered at the scene of the crime, are 15 dried male corpses, 3 female corpses and 2 children corpses.

Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Abutu Yaro, said the Command unravelled the suspected ritual shrine on Wednesday, August 17, and arrested three suspected ritualists.

Yaro said the raid is in line with the Command’s operational mandate of curbing crime in the state.

He said: “Following credible information at the Command’s disposal that some corpses were discovered in a building along Asoro slope off Ekehuan Road, Uzebu Quarters, in Benin City, operatives of the Command immediately swung into action and mobilized to the scene.”

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According to him, three suspects were arrested at the scene, namely: Chimaobi Okoewu ‘M’ and Oko Samuel ‘M’ both of Afikpo in Ebonyi and Gideon Sunday ‘M’ of Akwa Ibom State, while other suspects fled.

Yaro said the Police have launched an intensive manhunt to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

He noted that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Command Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been directed to carry out a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the discovered corpses.

The Police Commissioner urged members of the general public to be calm as the command will continue to ensure the safety of all law-abiding citizens and those residing in Edo State.

The Star