PICTURE: The ‘Mystery’ of Ibadan Weird Fish Solved

Yesterday NE posted the story of a controversial 'mystery fish' which was bought by a middle aged woman, Mrs. Ramota Salawu, and the story spread fast like wide fire after the woman alleged that the fish was half human.

However the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mohammed Ndabawa, on Wednesday (today) described the story of the fish with human parts as false while speaking with newsmen today.


It can be recalled that the Oyo State capital was thrown into confusion on Tuesday when a middle-age woman, Ramota Salawu, raised the alarm that a fish she bought at Gege area of the town suddenly turned into a half human.

 While narrating her experience, Mrs. Salawu said “I went to where we usually buy fish at Kola Eleja , Oke Ado, Ibadan to buy fish. After I finished, I boarded Okada to my place to prepare the fish for sale. Before getting the fish out of the ice-pack, we need to use knife to remove them and use water to defreeze.

“I was shocked to see the frozen fish developed into a living being in the water, the description of which showed half human and half fish. I quickly called by father and some alfas to see the strange fish.”

The fish seller could not gather herself together as she was overwhelmed by what happened.

The father of the woman, a retired civil servant, Pa Rauf Salawu expressed bewilderment over the miracle fish, adding that he has never seen such a thing before.

He said,” It was around 11am, when I started hearing the voice of my daughter while I was resting on my bed. She was shouting and screaming, such that people in the compound were attracted. Then, I decided to check what the problem was. I took along my Quran and on getting there my daughter has gone to call Sheu , a Muslim leader in the neighbourhood .

I saw the strange fish inside water in the bucket. It was strange. How can a fish bought in the cold room developed into human? That I cannot fully explain.”

Hundreds of residents trooped to Akindele Compound, Gege, to catch a glimpse of the ‘miracle fish’ in a bucket where it was kept.

By popular demand: A picture of the 'Mystery Fish' in Ibadan

But the police boss, while addressing reporters in his office in Ibadan on Wednesday, said the object was a baby octopus, assuring the residents that they have no reason to fear.

He said people were merely spreading falsehood on the internet concerning the fish.

Ms. Salawu, who claimed to have bought the strange fish at Oke Ado, where she usually buys the item, claimed that it developed into a living being shortly after it defrosted.

To debunk her claims, the state police boss displayed the fish to journalists on Wednesday.

He also said the woman was placed under protective custody and would be released when tension within the town is doused.