In a startling revelation, Dolapo Babalola, a 39-year-old fruit seller, has admitted to the gruesome murders of his cousin and four friends for ritualistic purposes in Okeigbo, Ondo State.
During a parade of 18 other suspects, Babalola detailed how he carried out the heinous acts and used the victims’ body parts for rituals.
Recounting his actions to journalists, he shared that his modus operandi involved attacking motorcyclists, snatching their bikes, and ultimately killing them when they recognized him.
Using stones and sticks, Babalola confessed to brutal attacks on individuals who identified him after the theft of their motorcycles.
Engaged in this gruesome trade since 2021, he disclosed that the operations spanned across the town and neighboring states.
“I have taken the lives of five individuals, including my cousin and a friend, after stealing their motorcycles. I disposed of Opeyemi’s bike to a buyer named Toheed in Ibadan,” Babalola revealed.
Emphatically stating that he did not traffic human body parts, he admitted to delivering a portion of a victim’s body to an herbalist in Ondo in exchange for an Ifa Oracle.
During the parade of the suspects, the State Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladapo, recounted the findings: “Following the arrest of Babalola Daniel, who led the police to a shallow grave at Okeigbo containing the remains of Opeyemi Oyelakin, a motorcycle rider, more arrests were made in connection with the case.”
Further investigations unveiled the scope of the crimes, revealing the murders of four individuals in different locations for their motorcycles.
The Commissioner continued, “In April 2023, a motorcyclist was slain in Kabba, Kogi State, and in Ife along the Ilesha road, Osun State, with body parts extracted for rituals. Subsequently, in June 2023, another motorcyclist met his end at Ondo town, whereas in October 2023, Babalola, along with an accomplice, deceived his childhood friend Joel Olagoke into a fatal trip where he was murdered. His remains were dismembered and given to herbalists for ritual purposes.”