CLAIM :On Tuesday 28th August, 2024, an X user Harry @chiditweets042 posted two pictures of people in possession of human parts, claiming they were apprehended in Ondo State. The user also claimed one of those arrested was an Islamic cleric, and that they were in possession of human hands, three kidneys, three hearts, spine and tongue.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
FULL TEXT
The menace of killing people for ritual purposes has been a common phenomenon all over Nigeria, as many people in possession of human parts have been apprehended by security personnel and private individuals.
In the post supported with two pictures, Harry claimed that two other people, Oluawo and Babatunde Kayode — supplying the human parts to the suspect, had also been arrested.
As at the time of filing this report, the post has generated over 600,000 views, over 4,099 likes, over 2,099 reposts, over 299 bookmarks, with more than 700 comments.
When Ripples Nigeria visited the comment section, it was discovered that people believed the claim to be true.
@ThouSonOfMan commented: “Some many pathetic stories from these sanctimonious people of the South West…”
Likewise, @Onyeka_Marco said: “Igbo people should beware of the South West, particularly Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo!”
Also, @JuuJuGirl said: “Why are some of these skull miners are Muslim yorubas, why?”
Due to the sensitive nature of this post and its potential to mislead the public, Ripples Nigeria decided to fact-check the claim.
VERIFICATION
Ripples Nigeria conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on the pictures, and it was revealed that they were online before 28th August, 2024.
Using Google Lens, this reporter discovered that the first picture had surfaced online since 2022 where we reported about a couple; Kehinde Oladimeji, 43 and Adejumoke Raji, 35, who were caught in possession of human parts in Ogun State. This was after the police were tipped off by the Baale of Leme Community, Mashood Ogunwolu.
Similarly, the International Centre for Investigative Journalism (ICIR) reported how the residents of the community where the couple were caught invaded the police station, brought the couple out of the facility and set them ablaze.
We subjected the second picture to Google verification tools, and it showed that a media platform reported the same incident on March 31, 2024, where the self-proclaimed cleric, Alfa Idris Oluwafemi was arrested in possession of human parts. The report also disclosed that two other people who sourced the human part for him were also arrested.
Other credible media platforms in Nigeria also reported the same incident since March, 2024.
CONCLUSION
The two pictures in question are not recent. While the first one has surfaced online since 2022, capturing an occurrence in Ogun State, the second one has been circulating since March 2024, showing when Alfa Olufemi was arrested.
