The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man allegedly found in possession of a severed human head in Ibadan, the state capital.
The command’s spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the incident occurred on April 11, 2026, at Adigun Village in the Olorunda Ogunsola area of Ona-Ara Local Government Area.
According to the police, the arrest followed intelligence reports indicating that a young girl had been murdered and her head severed.
Olayinka said the head was allegedly recovered from one Sodiq Kayode Akorede in the area.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Ayodeji Olugbenga, immediately ordered operatives to move to the scene, secure the evidence and apprehend the suspect.
Police operatives were said to have stormed the location and, despite resistance from an angry mob, rescued the suspect and took him into custody.
“Officers acted swiftly and professionally to rescue the suspect from mob attack, secure the exhibit and ensure he was taken into custody,” the statement read.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, revealed that the suspect allegedly killed a six-year-old girl, identified as Mutiyatu Sunday, and severed her head.
The command further stated that the suspect had confessed to the crime during interrogation.
He was subsequently taken to a medical facility for treatment of injuries sustained from the mob attack and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police warned residents against taking the law into their hands, stressing that jungle justice could hinder proper investigation and justice delivery.
The command also urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
