Police rescue 26 persons from ‘ strange mental home’ in Osun

No fewer than 26 persons have been rescued by the Osun Police Command from a ‘strange camp’ in Iwo area of the state.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr Olafimihan Adeoye, who disclosed this to newsmen in Osogbo, said the rescued persons were dehumanised under the disguise of receiving treatment for mental illness.

Adeoye, said four persons had been arrested in connection with the ‘ strange mental home camp’

The CP, who noted that the rescued persons had been taken to hospital for medical attention, said three of them had died.

He said the operation was led by the Police Public Relation Officer, SP Folashade Odoro.

He said, “At about 16:00 hours on Thursday, we received information of the existence of a camp in Iwo, where some sick persons were been treated in a very dehumanized manner.

“And it was as a result of the information, that we contacted the necessary agencies of government to join us to visit the place.

“So far, we have arrested four persons and they are undergoing interrogation.

“About 26 fellows were found in the camp and have been taken to hospital for necessary medical care.

“We also discovered that two of them have passed on just yesterday, I have just been informed that when conveying them to the hospital, another one gave up the ghost.

“So, we now have three of them that are dead. But, we hope that further investigation will reveal some other things.”

Adeoye, said the police would investigate the matter with of view of determining the culpability of whosoever involved in the setting up of the camp.

“For now, the state government has taken up the responsibility to ensure that the rescued people are effectively taken care off”

However, the suspected owner of the camp, Kamrdeen Akanmu, claimed that the camp was a spiritual healing centre for people who are mentally challenged.

Akanmu, in Yoruba language, said some of the victims in the camp had died and buried in the camp with the consent of the family.