What
exactly will make a man go from a salon to salon collecting people’s hair in
exchange for money?
exactly will make a man go from a salon to salon collecting people’s hair in
exchange for money?
This is
a question that only a 60-year-old man, Adewale Okunade, a landlord of a house
on Segun Olatunji Street, Ijoko, Ota, Ogun State, has its answer.
a question that only a 60-year-old man, Adewale Okunade, a landlord of a house
on Segun Olatunji Street, Ijoko, Ota, Ogun State, has its answer.
Okunade,
who hails from Oyo State, narrowly escaped being lynched on Thursday when some
people in the neighbourhood pounced on him.
who hails from Oyo State, narrowly escaped being lynched on Thursday when some
people in the neighbourhood pounced on him.
They
alleged that the hair was being taken to an herbalist in Cotonou, Republic of
Benin, who uses it to prepare charms for him.
alleged that the hair was being taken to an herbalist in Cotonou, Republic of
Benin, who uses it to prepare charms for him.
Some
people said they found Okunade’s behaviour bizarre, insisting that there was
more to his action.
people said they found Okunade’s behaviour bizarre, insisting that there was
more to his action.
It was
gathered that the man had been in the business for some years but nemesis
caught up with him on the fateful day when his ‘business partner’, a
bricklayer, gave him away.
gathered that the man had been in the business for some years but nemesis
caught up with him on the fateful day when his ‘business partner’, a
bricklayer, gave him away.
An
executive member of the Community Development Association said Okunade
allegedly confessed that he had been buying human hair.
executive member of the Community Development Association said Okunade
allegedly confessed that he had been buying human hair.
According
to the CDA executive, the victim said he had been using the hair to cure
himself of festering sores on his leg.
to the CDA executive, the victim said he had been using the hair to cure
himself of festering sores on his leg.
He said
the suspect denied the hair was meant for rituals, saying he used to take the
hair to an herbalist to prepare concoctions for his sores.
the suspect denied the hair was meant for rituals, saying he used to take the
hair to an herbalist to prepare concoctions for his sores.
He said
many traditional medicine practitioners who were there when Okunade was
apprehended, said human hair could only be used for rituals not for curing
sores.
many traditional medicine practitioners who were there when Okunade was
apprehended, said human hair could only be used for rituals not for curing
sores.
He
said, “The suspect’s partner had gone to a barber in their neighbourhood to buy
some hair. The barber, however, refused. The suspect sent his partner to go to
the barber’s apprentice.
said, “The suspect’s partner had gone to a barber in their neighbourhood to buy
some hair. The barber, however, refused. The suspect sent his partner to go to
the barber’s apprentice.
“When
they got to the apprentice, he agreed, but unknown to them that the barber was
monitoring their movement. The barber decided to lay ambush for them.
they got to the apprentice, he agreed, but unknown to them that the barber was
monitoring their movement. The barber decided to lay ambush for them.
“When
he (barber) saw them with a cellophane bag, he raised the alarm and many
people in the neighbourhood were drawn to the scene. By the time they checked
the contents in the bag, they saw plenty of human hair.
he (barber) saw them with a cellophane bag, he raised the alarm and many
people in the neighbourhood were drawn to the scene. By the time they checked
the contents in the bag, they saw plenty of human hair.
“That
was how the community pounced on his partner and started questioning him about
the source of the hair. It was in the course of that the partner said it was
Okunade who sent him.
was how the community pounced on his partner and started questioning him about
the source of the hair. It was in the course of that the partner said it was
Okunade who sent him.
“The
people moved to Okunade’s house but he was not around. When he came back and
people related the incident to him, he left the community the following day.
people moved to Okunade’s house but he was not around. When he came back and
people related the incident to him, he left the community the following day.
“By the
time he came back, he thought the residents would have forgotten about the
incident, but when they saw him, they mobbed him. It was then he explained that
he had sores on his leg that refused to heal and that he had been curing them
with concoction mixed with human hair.
time he came back, he thought the residents would have forgotten about the
incident, but when they saw him, they mobbed him. It was then he explained that
he had sores on his leg that refused to heal and that he had been curing them
with concoction mixed with human hair.
“The
community, not satisfied with his explanation, decided to hand him over to the
police at Sango Police Station.”
community, not satisfied with his explanation, decided to hand him over to the
police at Sango Police Station.”
Another
resident, who craved anonymity, said, “We have yet to come to terms with his
pedestrian explanation. As for us, he is not saying the whole truth.
resident, who craved anonymity, said, “We have yet to come to terms with his
pedestrian explanation. As for us, he is not saying the whole truth.
“We
learnt that he pays between N200,000 and N300,000 for each consignment of hair.
You can see that his explanation lacks the essential elements of truth. I am
also amazed that human hair has become a cure for sores.”
learnt that he pays between N200,000 and N300,000 for each consignment of hair.
You can see that his explanation lacks the essential elements of truth. I am
also amazed that human hair has become a cure for sores.”
The
spokesman for Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the story was
twisted by the community.
spokesman for Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the story was
twisted by the community.
He said
the suspect had only solicited for hair because of his festering sores.
the suspect had only solicited for hair because of his festering sores.
Adejobi
said, “The story was not like that. The man (Okunade) has a sore and he said he
needed human hair to cure the sore. He had not gotten the hair; he only
solicited. The community just raised the alarm which resulted in the man’s car
being vandalised.
said, “The story was not like that. The man (Okunade) has a sore and he said he
needed human hair to cure the sore. He had not gotten the hair; he only
solicited. The community just raised the alarm which resulted in the man’s car
being vandalised.
“He
reported to the police that his car was being vandalised and that they wanted
to kill him. That was how the police mediated to avoid the man being lynched.”
reported to the police that his car was being vandalised and that they wanted
to kill him. That was how the police mediated to avoid the man being lynched.”
Source: Punch
