Five suspects have been arrested after operatives of the Zone 12 Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police Force allegedly recovered two human eyes and suspected ritual materials from them in Bauchi State.
The shocking discovery has triggered a police investigation, with authorities working to establish where the human eyes came from and whether the suspects are linked to a wider ritual-related criminal network.
The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Idris, Sani Haruna, Auwal Umar, Abubakar Yusuf and Sharu Sale.
According to a statement by the Zone 12 Police Public Relations Officer, SP Jalige Mohammad, the suspects were arrested with two human eyes, white and red pieces of cloth and other materials suspected to be connected with money rituals.
Mohammad said the recovered items had been taken into police custody as investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding their possession.
The five suspects are also being interrogated by detectives as the police attempt to unravel the source of the human eyes and determine whether other persons may be involved.
The Zone 12 spokesman said investigators were working to identify possible accomplices and trace the origin of the recovered exhibits.
He added that the suspects would be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction after the completion of the investigation.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone reportedly condemned the incident, warning against criminal activities involving human body parts.
The police also urged parents, guardians and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the nearest police formation.
The latest arrest comes amid continuing concerns over crimes involving human trafficking, ritual practices and the unlawful possession or trade in human body parts in parts of Nigeria.
Police authorities, however, stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that the full circumstances surrounding the recovered human eyes have yet to be established.
