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We saw plastic bottles filled with human flesh, blood in his house – Community leaders tell court

Published

1 year ago

July 19, 2025

We saw plastic bottles filled with human flesh, blood in his house – Community leaders tell court

Community leaders tell court what he and others saw when the house of a suspected ritual murderer in their community was forced open by the police.

LAST Friday, the Court 5 of Oyo State High Court, hearing the murder case involving five persons, heard the testimony of the third prosecution witness (PW3), Pastor Abraham Ajayi, the chairman of Okegbemi Community Landlord’s Association, Zone C. Pastor Ajayi told the story of what led to the discovery of the activities of the first defendant, Adekunle Mohammed, in the murder of community members and others.

Mohammed is standing trial with four others before Justice Akinniyi Ladiran Akintola for alleged conspiracy, murder and dismemberment of the bodies of victims for sale. The four other accused persons are Muniru Salaudeen, Rashidat Akanji a.k.a Iya Ewe; Ismail Olalekan and Sanmi Obaleye.

Ajayi, a commercial motorcyclist who was led in evidence by the State Principal Counsel, S. A. Osuolale. He said he lives at Seriki Okegbemi area, Olorisaoko, Moniya, and told the court that the first defendant had been known to him in the community since 2016.

Casting his mind back to August 7, 2024, Pastor Ajayi said: “On that date, we had a naming ceremony in our area, and as the community chairman, it is part of my duties to be there. As I was heading home from Moniya to meet up with the time of ceremony, I met Adekunle Mohammed on a motorcycle going towards Moniya with a male child, while I was heading towards our community. When I got to the ceremony, I stayed there till 9pm before I left for my home.

“I was back in my house when someone walked in and said they had been trying to reach me. I was asked to come to the place we usually hold community meetings. When I got there, I met about five people who said they saw a commercial motorcyclist (Okada) around Mohammed’s house. They said they questioned the okada man on the reason he was there at such a late hour. The man, they said replied that he brought Afaa Mohammed home. Mohammed was seen carrying a tied white sack containing something. I told the community members how I saw Mohammed leaving the community for Moniya, wondering why he was seen at night carrying the sack.

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“Other community members came out and asked him what he always came at night and midnight to do in his house. They agreed that we should all go to his house to check it out to know the business they were always doing late at night.

“When we got there, people wanted us to break in but I stopped them. We asked people in the house which shares a fence with him to come out and tell us what they observed about him and his house. They said they had perceived foul smell oozing from Mohammed’s house times without number, and that swarm of flies usually perched on the windows.

“I told the gathering that the matter was beyond us, and that we should inform the police so that the house could be opened for all to see what was inside. I called the general chairman to come to our zone. When he arrived, I briefed him and told him that I would like to involve the police to come and force open Mohammed’s house so that everyone would see what was inside.

“We proceeded to the Amotekun office at Akinyele and got there at about 12 a. m. There, we were directed to go and report at Moniya police station. We gave the Amotekun personnel Mohammed’s phone number. At the station, we were told to come back at daybreak since it was already into the early hours. We also left his phone number with the police.

“In the morning, the executive had a meeting. We were at the meeting when the general chairman called me that Amotekun personnel were on their way to our community. When they arrived, we took them to Adekunle’s house which was full of grasses. We informed the Amotekun that the house had always been full of weed. The officers checked the surroundings and found a deep well covered with planks and roofing sheets. They opened the well, flashed their torches inside it, covered it back and told us to go with them to Moniya police station. When we got there, the Divisional Police Officer advised us to be vigilant, tighten security in the community and not to allow strange faces in it.

“The following day, the general chairman told us to come to the station, as the defendant had been arrested. He said Amotekun said that they saw a human corpse in the well when they came to check Adekunle’s house. We went to the police station and met the police recording the statement of the accused. When asked why he was killing and keeping bodies in the well, he replied that he usually killed thieves and dropped them in it. The police asked him whether he reported to the community or the police that a thief came to his house and he killed him. They said that they didn’t just find one body in the well.

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“When asked how he killed the thieves, he replied that he would first hit them with charm. He was detained by the police, saying it was due to the search carried out at his house.

“On August 10, 2024, community members informed of the discovery made by the police in Adekunle’s house and we were all asked to report at the police station. We met a lot of security personnel at the station and the media. We all moved to Mohammed’s house. There, his well was opened, a putrid smell oozed out. The police requested that Mohammed should open the door to his house. When he could not do it, the door was broken. When the police officers got in, they saw blood all over the floor and there was foul smell. There were several plastic bottles filled with fresh blood and human body parts.

“When Mohammed was asked what the items were, he confirmed that they were human body parts and blood which he had yet to sell because there were no buyers yet. Then he told the police not to make issue public yet because others were involved and would flee if they got to know that he had been arrested. He called some names of those involved, but I can only remember Afaa Bulala and Afaa Olobe. He also mentioned Kuraisi whose real name is Yakubu. The defendant told the police to make sure these people were also arrested.

“The police called the Oyo State Fire Service and they came and evacuated three bodies from the well in Mohammed’s house. The evacuated ones were without heads, arms and legs. The Fire Service officials said that those were the ones that could be evacuated as other bodies had decomposed. We arranged a vehicle to convey the recovered body to the mortuary.

“The case was transferred to State CID where the investigation continued.”

The statement he wrote at the police station was tendered in evidence, and with no objections from the defence counsels, the statement was admitted and marked as Exhibit P3.

The matter was adjourned till November 6.

Meanwhile, on June 20, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Oladimeji Titilope, elder sister of another victim, Adekola Sodiq, said Mohammed said he knew my late brother and even mentioned my name. “Then he disclosed that he had killed Sodiq, my brother.”

We saw plastic bottles filled with human flesh, blood in his house – Community leaders tell court

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Nigeria Customs debunks fake recruitment update, warns job seekers

Published

3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigeria Customs debunks fake recruitment update, warns job seekers

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has warned Nigerians to disregard a fake recruitment update circulating on social media, stating that the publication did not originate from the Service and should not be trusted.

In a statement released on Thursday, the NCS described the recruitment notice as false and advised prospective applicants to rely only on information released through its official communication channels.

According to the Service, the fake publication is part of a growing trend of recruitment scams in which fraudsters exploit the desire of Nigerians seeking government jobs by circulating false employment notices and demanding money or sensitive personal information from unsuspecting victims.

“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wishes to inform the public that the purported recruitment update currently circulating on some social media platforms is fake and did not originate from the Service,” the statement said.

The Service urged Nigerians to verify every recruitment-related announcement before acting on or sharing it, warning that misinformation could expose job seekers to fraud and identity theft.

It stressed that all official information regarding Nigeria Customs recruitment, promotions, screening exercises and other activities is published only through its verified communication platforms.

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The NCS advised members of the public to follow its verified Facebook page (Nigeria Customs Service) and its official Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Threads and TikTok accounts under the handle @customsng for authentic updates.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard the publication and rely only on information disseminated through the official communication channels of the Nigeria Customs Service,” the statement added.

The Service also reminded applicants that it does not charge any fee at any stage of its recruitment process, warning that anyone requesting payment in exchange for employment should be regarded as a fraudster.

The latest advisory comes amid a resurgence of fake recruitment notices targeting applicants following increased public interest in employment opportunities within government agencies.

In recent months, the NCS has repeatedly disowned forged recruitment documents, fake screening schedules and fabricated Computer-Based Test (CBT) notifications circulated online by scammers attempting to deceive job seekers.

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness and merit in its recruitment process, assuring Nigerians that whenever recruitment begins, the public will be informed through its official website and verified social media platforms.

It further urged citizens to remain vigilant by avoiding unofficial recruitment websites, refusing to make payments for employment offers and reporting suspected recruitment scams to relevant security agencies.

The NCS concluded its advisory with a reminder to Nigerians: “Stay vigilant. Verify information before sharing.”

As recruitment scams continue to evolve, the Service encouraged applicants to confirm any employment-related information through official sources before submitting applications or personal details.

Nigeria Customs debunks fake recruitment update, warns job seekers

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ICPC uncovers 908 suspected ghost workers in Police, other federal agencies, recovers ₦942m

Published

3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu

ICPC uncovers 908 suspected ghost workers in Police, other federal agencies, recovers ₦942m

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers across at least 50 federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) accounting for the highest number of suspected fraudulent payroll entries.

The anti-corruption agency disclosed that the nationwide payroll verification exercise also led to the recovery of about ₦942 million in salaries allegedly paid to fictitious employees, describing the discovery as a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to eliminate payroll fraud and improve accountability in the public sector.

Speaking on the findings, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), said the investigation exposed widespread manipulation of government payroll systems through the insertion of fictitious names, ineligible beneficiaries and non-existent employees into salary records.

According to the commission, ghost workers are individuals whose names are fraudulently inserted into government payrolls to illegally receive salaries despite not being legitimate employees. In some cases, public officials allegedly add the names of relatives, friends or associates to the payroll and divert the salaries for personal gain.

Aliyu revealed that investigators uncovered one case involving a suspect who allegedly placed the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law on the payroll while simultaneously collecting salaries meant for 12 other fictitious workers.

The Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected ghost workers, with 570 names flagged during the verification exercise.

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The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80 suspected ghost workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works recorded 56.

Other agencies affected include the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which had 24 suspected ghost workers, the Federal Ministry of Defence with 19, and both the Federal Ministry of Power and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, each with 17 suspected ghost workers.

The Federal Ministry of Health recorded 15 suspected ghost workers, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had 12.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Interior were also identified as agencies affected by payroll fraud, although the ICPC did not disclose the number of suspected ghost workers linked to the two institutions because investigations are still ongoing.

The commission explained that the payroll audit forms part of its broader strategy to support the Federal Government’s drive to eliminate financial leakages from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and strengthen transparency in public financial management.

As part of the anti-graft campaign, the ICPC recently secured a final forfeiture order from the Federal High Court in Abuja for approximately ₦942 million traced to accounts linked to the payroll fraud scheme. The recovered funds have been forfeited to the Federal Government.

The commission disclosed that an earlier phase of the investigation initially identified 587 suspected ghost workers during a joint payroll audit conducted with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Following further verification, 120 individuals were confirmed to be legitimate employees, while investigations into the remaining suspicious accounts continue.

Aliyu said the ICPC would continue to deploy technology, data analytics and collaboration with relevant government agencies to detect payroll fraud, recover stolen public funds and prosecute anyone found culpable.

He also urged heads of ministries, departments and agencies to strengthen internal control systems, conduct regular personnel audits and ensure strict compliance with payroll verification procedures to prevent future abuses.

The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to sanitising the Federal Government payroll system, blocking revenue leakages and promoting transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.

ICPC uncovers 908 suspected ghost workers in Police, other federal agencies, recovers ₦942m

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How to apply for FG’s YouthCred loan and qualify for up to ₦2 million

Published

4 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Trends Admin

How to apply for FG’s YouthCred loan and qualify for up to ₦2 million

The Federal Government has launched YouthCred for Entrepreneurs, a new financing initiative designed to provide collateral-free business loans of between ₦200,000 and ₦2 million to young Nigerians running micro and small businesses.

The programme, unveiled in Abuja, is part of the government’s broader effort to improve access to affordable credit, reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and support the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.

According to the government, the initiative will initially support 500,000 young entrepreneurs, with plans to expand the programme to one million beneficiaries before the end of the year.

Unlike conventional bank loans that often require collateral and guarantors, YouthCred uses an alternative credit assessment model that evaluates applicants based on their business cash flow, repayment capacity and credit behaviour.

Who is eligible to apply?

To qualify for the YouthCred loan, applicants must:

Be between 18 and 35 years old
Own or operate a business
Demonstrate responsible credit behaviour
Show evidence of business cash flow and ability to repay the loan
Complete the required verification process

How much can applicants borrow?

Eligible entrepreneurs can access loans ranging from:

Minimum: ₦200,000
Maximum: ₦2 million

The amount approved will depend on the applicant’s business performance, repayment capacity and credit assessment.

Who can benefit?

The programme targets young Nigerians operating small businesses and providing essential services, including:

Caterers
Fashion designers and tailors
Make-up artists
Hairdressers and barbers
Content creators
Ride-hailing drivers
Mechanics
Young farmers
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members
ICT professionals
Other eligible micro and small business owners

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How to apply for the FG’s YouthCred loan

Applicants can complete their application online by following these steps:

Step 1: Visit the official YouthCred application portal.

Step 2: Create an account using your email address and personal details.

Step 3: Select the Youth Entrepreneur category.

Step 4: Fill in the online application form with accurate personal and business information.

Step 5: Upload the required identification and verification documents.

Step 6: Submit the application for verification and credit assessment.

Step 7: If successful, the application will be processed through participating regulated financial institutions before the loan is disbursed.

Is collateral required?

No.

One of the major advantages of the YouthCred programme is that applicants are not required to provide collateral or guarantors.

Instead, loan approval is based on:

Business cash flow
Credit history
Repayment capacity
Overall financial assessment

Flexible repayment options

Successful applicants can repay the loan over a period of one to 12 months, depending on the repayment plan that best suits their business and financial situation.

The flexible repayment structure is intended to make borrowing more accessible while encouraging responsible financial management.

How to increase your loan limit

Borrowers who perform well under the programme can qualify for larger loans in future by:

Repaying previous loans on time
Building a positive credit history
Completing the platform’s financial literacy and business training modules

Government explains purpose of the scheme

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy said the initiative was created to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of young Nigerians by giving them access to affordable financing.

According to the minister, more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s MSMEs are microenterprises operated by individuals such as caterers, mechanics, fashion designers, ride-hailing drivers, content creators and young farmers.

He said improving access to credit would help these entrepreneurs expand their businesses, create jobs and contribute more to national economic growth.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), Uzoma Nwagba, said the government intends to reach 500,000 beneficiaries in the first phase and one million young Nigerians before the end of the year.

He encouraged beneficiaries to repay their loans promptly, noting that responsible borrowing would strengthen their credit profiles and allow more Nigerians to benefit from the programme.

The Federal Government said the initiative forms part of its broader strategy to promote financial inclusion, stimulate entrepreneurship and empower young Nigerians with affordable access to business financing.