A Special Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the remand of five suspects accused of attempting to kill a 16 year old boy, Farouq Abdulahi Taiwo, and harvest his organs in Ikire. The defendants, Awotunde Saudat, Muyideen Olutoki, Fatai Abiodun, Usman Ademola and Ismaila Abiodun, were charged with conspiracy and attempted murder.
The court directed that the suspects be kept at the Ilesa Correctional Centre while the case progresses. The matter has been transferred to the Chief Magistrate Court, Ikire, under charge number MOS/SSA CID/15c/2025.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired on July 25 2025 at Ako area, Awotedo, to commit murder, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Osun Criminal Code. They are also accused of attempting to unlawfully kill Farouq by removing one of his testicles and cutting open his abdomen with a cutlass in an effort to extract his heart and other organs for ritual purposes, contrary to Section 320.
When the case came up at the Ikire court on January 15, Magistrate M A Ojo adjourned proceedings to January 21 for hearing of a bail application. This followed arguments by counsel to one of the defendants, Chief Abimbola Ige, who asked the court to grant his client bail.
A relative of the victim, Alhaji Musbaudeen Daud, condemned the attack and insisted that the suspects must not go unpunished. He urged the Osun State Government to intervene, warning that ritual related killings have become a recurring problem in the area.
Daud said similar incidents had occurred in the past without the culprits being brought to justice. He expressed fear that without strong intervention the present case could be neglected.
Giving details of the incident, Daud said Farouq went to cut grass at Arademi area, Ikire, on July 26 2025 with Ismail Abiodun and Usman Ademola. He alleged that the two men lured the teenager into a remote bush, attacked him, cut open his abdomen and removed his scrotum before fleeing when he managed to raise an alarm.
Farouq was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital before being referred to the University College Hospital in Ibadan for further treatment. The family only found him the following day after police informed them he had been located at UCH.
Daud further alleged that two key suspects arrested by the police confessed to selling harvested human organs to buyers at Owode market in Apomu. He said the family has spent between 16 million and 18 million naira on Farouq’s medical care so far.
About the author
Spain vs Argentina Finalissima cancelled over Middle East crisis
The 2026 Finalissima match between Spain and Argentina has been cancelled due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the failure to agree on a new venue.Spain, winners of Euro 2024, and Argentina, Copa América 2024 champions, had been scheduled to meet on March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. UEFA confirmed in a statement that the game could not go ahead in Qatar because of the current political and security situation in the region.The announcement came after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and rising tensions that officials said made hosting the match there unsuitable. Following Qatar’s withdrawal as host, UEFA, CONMEBOL and local organisers explored other options, including moving the match to Madrid or Buenos Aires.However, no agreement was reached, with the Argentine Football Association insisting the game be played on neutral ground rather than […]
I left acting for music, not because of trauma, says Ray Emodi
Nollywood actor and singer Ray Emodi has clarified that he did not leave acting because of trauma or family pressure, but to fully pursue his passion for music.He said recent reports suggesting that his exit from Nollywood was driven mainly by traumatic experiences were misleading and did not capture his true motivation. Emodi explained that music has always been his first love and that he had been combining it with acting for years before deciding to focus on it completely.According to him, continuing to split his time between both fields was holding him back from reaching his full potential as an artiste. He confirmed that he had faced difficult moments on some movie sets, including unsafe locations and stressful work conditions, but insisted that these were not the main reasons for his decision.He also noted that while he has spoken […]
Super Eagles friendlies with Jordan, Iran moved to Turkey
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that the Super Eagles’ planned friendly matches against Jordan and Iran have been moved from the Middle East to Turkey.The games, originally scheduled for Amman in Jordan later this month, were relocated because of rising tensions and security concerns in the region. Nigeria had been set to play Iran on March 27 and Jordan on March 31 in a four nation invitational tournament that also involved Costa Rica.However, Iran has since withdrawn from the event, meaning the Super Eagles will now only take on Jordan in the rearranged programme. According to updates from the Jordan Football Association, the tournament will now take place in Antalya, a major football and tourism hub in Turkey.Officials said the new venue offers a safer environment and easier travel for teams, match officials and supporters. The NFF sees the […]
Man United sink Aston Villa, boost Champions League hopes
Manchester United strengthened their push for a return to the UEFA Champions League with a 3–1 home win over top four rivals Aston Villa on Sunday.The result keeps United ahead of Villa in the league table and gives them a crucial advantage in the tight race for European places. United started brightly and took control of the game with sharp attacking play and high pressing.Their pressure paid off as they broke through Villa’s defence to grab the opening goal and settle early nerves at Old Trafford. Aston Villa responded and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, creating moments of danger for the home side.The visitors eventually levelled, reminding United of the stakes in a match that could shape both clubs’ seasons. United, however, refused to lose control and struck again to restore their lead, lifting the atmosphere inside the […]
Netanyahu mocks false social media rumours about his death
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mocked viral social media rumours falsely claiming that he had died.The claims spread online after his recent televised address, with some users even suggesting the video was generated by artificial intelligence. In response, Netanyahu posted a short video on his official X account, filmed at a cafe outside Jerusalem, to show he is alive and well.Receiving a cup of coffee, he joked in Hebrew, “I’m dead for coffee,” using a common phrase meaning he really loves coffee. He then raised his hands to the camera and asked viewers if they wanted to count his fingers, directly addressing online speculation that earlier footage showed him with six fingers.Social media users had shared slowed clips and screenshots of his last address, claiming what they called an “AI finger glitch” proved the video was fake. Netanyahu used […]
Tinubu has ended Southeast marginalisation, says Umahi
Minister of Works, David Umahi, says President Bola Tinubu has effectively ended the long standing political and infrastructural marginalisation of the Southeast region.He stated this while speaking at a public event where he reviewed federal projects and appointments linked to the zone. Umahi explained that, under Tinubu, the Southeast is receiving more federal attention than at any other time since the return to democracy in 1999.According to him, previous administrations did not give the region the level of inclusion and investment it is currently enjoying. He pointed to his own appointment as Minister of Works as a major signal of change, describing it as the first time since independence that someone from the Southeast is heading the ministry.Umahi said this position has allowed the region to have a stronger voice in national infrastructure planning and execution. The minister listed several […]
Related
Tinubu has ended Southeast marginalisation, says Umahi
Minister of Works, David Umahi, says President Bola Tinubu has effectively ended the long standing political and infrastructural marginalisation of the Southeast region.He stated this while speaking at a public event where he reviewed federal projects and appointments linked to the zone. Umahi explained that, under Tinubu, the Southeast is receiving more federal attention than at any other time since the return to democracy in 1999.According to him, previous administrations did not give the region the level of inclusion and investment it is currently enjoying. He pointed to his own appointment as Minister of Works as a major signal of change, describing it as the first time since independence that someone from the Southeast is heading the ministry.Umahi said this position has allowed the region to have a stronger voice in national infrastructure planning and execution. The minister listed several […]
Middle East crisis: NLC demands COLA, wage award, tax relief
The Nigeria Labour Congress has asked the Federal Government to introduce immediate measures such as cost of living allowance, wage awards and tax relief to cushion the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on Nigerian workers.The union said rising global tensions have worsened fuel prices, transport costs and inflation, deepening hardship for salaries that were already inadequate. NLC President Joe Ajaero noted that workers were struggling even before the latest spike in energy costs and warned that many households can no longer cope without urgent support.He explained that the current N70,000 minimum wage has been overtaken by inflation and does not reflect the real cost of food, transport, housing and basic services. The NLC is therefore pushing for a cost of living allowance to be paid on top of existing wages so that workers can absorb sudden price shocks.Ajaero […]
Tinubu doing well across key sectors, says Gowon
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has praised President Bola Tinubu’s performance, saying the administration is doing well across key sectors of national life.He spoke with State House correspondents after a private meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Gowon said his visit was to greet the President and thank him for the efforts being made to move the country forward.According to him, the government is working in political, economic and social areas, as well as in tackling security challenges. He acknowledged that Nigerians are facing difficulties but urged citizens to be patient and give the administration time for its reforms to yield fuller results.He added that it is too early to expect all problems to be solved, noting that major policy changes usually take time to reflect in people’s daily lives. Gowon encouraged Nigerians […]
Fuel price hike: Presidency faults Obi on strategic reserve proposal
The Presidency has rejected claims by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi that Nigeria’s rising fuel prices are mainly due to a lack of strategic petroleum reserves.It said Obi’s comments oversimplify a complex problem and ignore the deeper structural challenges that have long affected the country’s energy sector. In a statement shared on social media, presidential aide Dada Olusegun argued that recent increases in petrol prices are largely driven by global market forces, not the absence of strategic reserves.He noted that many advanced economies with large reserves still experience price swings because reserves are not used simply to stop normal market movements. Olusegun stressed that Nigeria’s main problem lies in decades of low refining capacity, heavy dependence on imported petrol, and pressure on the foreign exchange market.He said these long term issues make the country highly vulnerable whenever international […]
National Museum names Dufuna canoe, Lugard Bridge top heritage sites
The National Commission for Museums and Monuments has listed the ancient Dufuna canoe and Lugard’s Footbridge as two of Nigeria’s most important heritage sites.The commission said both sites reflect key phases in Nigeria’s history, from prehistoric innovation to the colonial era. The Dufuna canoe, discovered in 1987 near the village of Dufuna in Yobe State, is regarded as the oldest known boat in Africa and the second oldest in the world.Radiocarbon dating places the canoe at about 8,000 years old, showing that advanced boat-making and fishing activities existed in the region thousands of years ago. According to the commission, the canoe offers rare insight into early human settlement, transport, and trade along the Komadugu Gana River and surrounding communities.It described the artefact as a national and global treasure that strengthens Nigeria’s place in discussions on world archaeology and early technology. […]
Ex-Super Eagles legend Henry Nwosu dies at 62
Former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu has died at the age of 62, plunging Nigerian football into deep mourning.He reportedly passed away around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care for several days. The news of his death was announced by his former teammate and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Segun Odegbami, who shared the sad development on his media platforms.Odegbami revealed that Nwosu battled for his life for about five days in the hospital before he passed on. Henry Nwosu was a key member of Nigeria’s historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations squad, which delivered the country’s first-ever AFCON title on home soil.As the youngest player in that team, he was widely admired for his creativity, vision, composure on the ball, and excellent reading […]