Human parts discovered in church, as Police arrest prophet

, three others in Ogun The Ogun State Police have arrested a prophet and three other suspects in connection with the discovery of suspected human parts buried inside a church. The arrested 77-year-old prophet, Samuel Babatunde, is the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Itedo Isinmi Ayo Parish, Egan Road in Iyana-Iyesi area of Ota. The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, who paraded the cleric in Ota, told reporters that the discovery followed the arrest, on Saturday, of a suspected serial kidnapper, Jeremiah Adeola. He said Adeola, 32, specialised in kidnapping children and had already confessed that the prophet of the white garment church was the receiver of the abducted children. The police boss added that a 43-year-old herbalist, Haruna Afolabi, was among the suspects, who allegedly buried the human parts at the entrance of the church. According to him, operatives attached to the police Area Command in Ota on Sunday received technical intelligence about Adeola and eventually apprehended him. Iliyasu said, “On the strength of the intelligence, detectives from Ota Area Command were detailed to effect the arrest of the suspect; and at about 10:20am of the date, 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 Babatunde, 67 years, a pastor in charge of the church and one Haruna Afolabi, 42 years, 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, however, said the police command will conduct forensic investigation into the case. He assured that all those found guilty of the crime will be brought to justice, adding that “Ogun State will never be a safe haven for criminals.” But speaking in an interview the arrested pastor denied the allegation levelled against him. Babatunde said that a pig was buried alive inside the church contrary to claims that human parts were buried there. He explained that he carried out the act in order to bring good fortune, prosperity and comfort to the congregation of the church. The pastor, who revealed that he founded the church in 2005, however, expressed regret over the incident, which he blamed on the devil. Babatunde said though he met Adeola at a prayer mountain in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, he never had any ritualist dealing with the alleged serial kidnapper, whom he accused of mental infirmity. However, Adeola insisted that the pastor was the receiver of some kidnapped children, saying the cleric paid him N50,000 each for the two children he supplied to him. The suspect said one Olaniyi, still at large, introduced him to the business of kidnapping in 2013 in Ibadan, where they often kidnap their victims via a commercial vehicle.