The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old suspect in connection with the killing of a six-year-old girl in Ibadan, recovering the victim’s severed head from his possession.

The incident occurred on Saturday in Adigun Village, Olorunda Ogunsola area of the city, and has drawn strong reactions from residents.

The police spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command received intelligence that a young girl had been killed and her head found with the suspect, identified as Sodiq Kayode Akorede.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to the scene.

Officers met resistance from a mob at the location but rescued and arrested the suspect, while securing the severed head recovered from him.

Preliminary investigation identified the victim as Mutiyatu Sunday, aged six. The police said the suspect killed the child and severed her head before his arrest, adding that he confessed during interrogation.

The suspect, who sustained injuries during the mob attack, is receiving treatment at a medical facility and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.

The command warned against mob action, stating that such conduct disrupts investigations and delays justice. It assured residents that the case would be thoroughly investigated and urged the public to report suspicious activities to security agencies.

In a separate operation, police operatives arrested 10 suspects over alleged impersonation and large-scale forgery of official documents in Ibadan.

Ayanlade said the arrests followed intelligence indicating that a syndicate producing fake certificates, stamps and official documents operated from a hideout in the Ogunpa area.

Operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit carried out a coordinated raid, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Those arrested are Mumini Akanbi, 62; Quadri Muhammed, 31; Salami Tajudeen, 50; Oladipupo Hammed, 45; Oladipupo Taiwo, 40; Olorunosebi Kazzeem, 42; Fatai Akanni, 54; Alamu Kazeem, 60; Olalekan Afeez, 42; and Alex Olanrewaju, 64.

Police executed search warrants at their locations and recovered items including a fake Police Character Certificate and stamps of the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, Ogun State CID Eleweran Office, Iyaganku Area Command, Divisional Police Officers, Oyo State Government ministries, commercial banks and private organisations.

Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects operated as a syndicate producing forged documents for impersonation and other fraudulent activities. The police said the suspects had confessed and were providing information to support ongoing investigations.

The commissioner commended the operatives and members of the public who provided information leading to the arrests. He advised residents to follow due process when obtaining official documents.

The police said investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion.