Edem Bassey Otu, a self-acclaimed licensed herbalist who was recently arrested with two human skulls while allegedly preparing some cultists for an outing, is of the opinion the police has no right to arrest him.
According to Edem because the police found skulls in his shrine, doesn’t mean they have the right to arrest him. He said the skulls were left behind by his father, who died some eight years ago.
Bassey who was paraded before newsmen at the Cross Rivers state Police command yesterday July 4th, said he is a herbalist who treats people with different ailment and that he learnt the trade from his deceased father. .
“I am a herbalist and I heal people of different sickness. I have my license to operate as a herbalist. Somebody ran in front of my house and the Police came to my house to arrest me. They have no right because I have been using these skulls for my job since my father left them for me some eight years ago” he said .
Briefing newsmen on how the suspect was arrested, the state Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, said the command had received a distress call from an unknown number that some group of cultists were undergoing a fortification ritual and they immediately swung into action.
. “On 27th June 2018 at about 1400hrs, we received a distress call from an unknown number that some group of cultists were undergoing a fortification ritual. Anti-cultism/kidnapping squad swung into action and arrested one Otu Edem Bassey of 12b Etim Edem Street while others took to their heels,” the Commissioner said.
Items recovered from Bassey included two human skulls, charms and other items used for incantation. The commissioner said the suspect would be charged to court after investigations have been concluded.
