From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
 
A 77-year-old pastor, Samuel Babatunde, has  been arrested by the police in Ogun State, in connection with the discovery of suspected human parts buried inside a church.
Also arrested with the cleric, who is the founder of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Itedo Isinmi Ayo Parish, located on Egan Road in Iyana-Iyesi area of Ota, were three others, including a suspected serial kidnapper, Jeremiah, and herbalist, Haruna.
While parading the cleric yesterday in Ota, the Ogun  State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, said Jeremiah, 32, specialised in abducting children, and he had already confessed that the pastor of the white garment church was the receiver of the abducted children.
The CP further disclosed that the herbalist, was among the suspects who allegedly buried the human parts at the entrance of the church.
According to him, police operatives from the Area Command in Ota on Sunday received technical intelligence about Adeola and eventually apprehended him.
He said: “On the strength of the intelligence, detectives from Ota Area Command were detailed to effect the arrest of the suspect. At about 10:20am, their efforts paid off when the said Jeremiah Adeola was promptly arrested.
“On interrogation, he confessed being a serial kidnapper and mentioned a prophet of a white garment church as the receiver of the kidnapped children.
“Upon his revelation, he was taken to the house/church of the said prophet at Iyana-Iyesi Ota, where one Prophet Samuel, 67, pastor in charge of the church, and one Haruna, 42, a traditional worshiper, were arrested.
“The floor of the church was dug, as described by the first suspect, and parts suspected strongly to be human parts were dug out there in.”
The commissioner said the police would conduct forensic investigation into the case, while giving the assurance that all those found guilty of the crime would be brought to justice, insisting: “Ogun State will never be a safe haven for criminals.”
However, the cleric has denied the allegation, claiming that a pig was buried alive in the church, contrary and not human parts.

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