Just past mid-morning on the Ibadan Expressway, a white bus carrying passengers came to a sudden halt—intercepted by highway patrol. Amid the passengers sat Alfa Bashiru, an Islamic cleric now at the center of a sensational case: he was found with what authorities describe as suspected human flesh.
The image is chilling. A religious figure, sworn to leadership and trust, now in a police statement, alleged to be in possession of remains. It’s the kind of story that shakes people awake — because it pulls at things we assume safe: faith, respectability, community. And it forces uncomfortable questions: How deep do ritual crimes run in Nigerian cities? What gaps let gross injustice linger? How soon will we demand proof rather than rumors?
The Story So Far
The spokesperson of the Command, CSP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this in a statement posted on the command’s verified 𝕏 handle on Thursday.
According to him, operatives of the Federal Highway Patrol intercepted a white bus with registration number XA 551 IRG at the Toll Gate axis of the Ibadan Expressway around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Bashiru was reportedly among the passengers on board.
Osifeso said the cleric was found with a substance believed to be human flesh. When interrogated, the suspect claimed he had purchased it in Lagos.
He added that the suspect has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, for further investigation.
“The suspected item is undergoing forensic analysis to determine its authenticity and source,” Osifeso stated.
In a separate incident, police operatives recovered an abandoned Toyota Camry with registration number LSD 957 JX during a stop-and-search operation.
According to reports, Osifeso explained that the vehicle was flagged down by officers during routine checks, but the driver jumped out and fled the scene, leaving the car behind.
“The car has been taken into custody by the Command. Members of the public with legitimate claims to the vehicle are urged to come forward with verifiable documents or contact the Police Command,” he said.
The Police PRO stressed that Stop and Search operations were not “exaggerated security theatrics” but deliberate efforts to ensure the safety of residents and travellers in Oyo State.
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He assured the public of the command’s continued determination, under CP Femi Haruna’s leadership, to clamp down on crime and maintain peace across the state.
Fear, Faith, and the Duty of Proof
When society sees “cleric + human flesh,” the response is fear. But fear is powerless unless matched with justice and systems that work.
This incident forces us to ask: how do we protect the sacred from being corrupted, how do we protect the vulnerable from ritual exploitation, and how do we demand that allegations aren’t just headlines, but paths to truth?
If Alfa Bashiru is innocent, prove it with science. If guilty, let the law be swift. Either way, let this be a moment where Nigeria doesn’t flinch from its shadows — but shines light into them.
