A replay of the dreaded Okija Shrine that shook the entire nation some years back, reopened yesterday in Ido-Osun, Egbedore local government area of Osun State with the discovery of scores of human skulls and a decomposed body of an adult believed to be the founder of the sect in a shrine located in the state. The shrine, which was discovered by a combined team of men of the Osun State Police Command, was located within the premises of the Ido-Osun Aerodrome, an abandoned federal government project in the state. The team was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Mr. Adeyemi Gbolahan (ACP). No fewer than 15 persons, including nine women were arrested by the police, who stormed the shrine. Traditional ruler of the community, Oba Adedapo Aderemi Saporoyo, said the discovery was as a result of painstaking investigation into the nocturnal activities of members of the sect. Claiming to be members of Millennium Gospel Mission, the devotees identified the decomposed body as that of the founder of the sect, Jacob Adebayo Oladele, who they claimed, hailed from Ijero in Ekiti State. One of the devotees said the body was preserved as a sign of reverence and is daily worshipped by members as a demonstration of their faith that the body has transformed to higher plane, insisting that the late founder is the Saviour. Saturday Champion gathered that scores of human beings are being daily sacrificed to worship him, hence, the discovery of scores of human skulls and shallow graves within the vicinity of the shrine. The devotees, who erected permanent structures in the thick bush, also decorated the entire shrine, made up of a sacred altar where the body of the founder was placed, covered the vicinity with red clothes and insignia, thus making it a no-go area for residents of the sleepy town of Ido-Osun. Ido-Osun is a community, 10 minutes drive away from Osogbo, the state capital. During the raid, many skulls were also discovered by the police with residents of the town declaring that a shallow grave was discovered recently within the vicinity of the shrine. One of the suspects, Florence Oluwalomi Oladele, who claimed to be younger sister of the founder, insisted that the shrine is a church and that they worship God. She maintains that the late founder is the modern day Jesus and could not be buried like a mere mortal being, hence, the daily worship of him. Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Clement Akinola said men of the command stormed the shrine to effect the arrest. He assured that the police would ensure that all culprits are brought to book. |