September 13, 2022

The Police Command in Ogun has confirmed the arrest of six suspected cultists who allegedly attempted to kill a traditional ruler at Oja- Odan area of Ilaro in Ogun State.

The Police Spokesperson in State, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed this in a statement on Monday.

Oyeyemi explained that the suspected cultists were arrested on Saturday, while attempting to kill a traditional ruler in his palace.

Oyeyemi gave the names of the suspects as Michael Ayodele, Monday Samuel, Ademola Matthew, Hammed Jelili, Ogundele Ojeh and Sunkanmi Fadina.

“They were arrested following a distress call received at Oja Odan Divisional Headquarters from the Oba of Gbokoto land, Oba G.O Olukunle, at about 4 25 p.m. that some cultists were about to kill him in his palace.

“Upon the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), Oja- Odan Division, quickly mobilised his men and moved to the palace, where they met the hoodlums shooting sporadically.

“The policemen engaged them in shootout and eventually subdued the cultists and got six amongst them arrested.

“During the interrogation, the suspects confessed being members of the dreaded Eiye Confraternity.

“In addition, they also informed the police that it was the son of the Oba who is now at large, that invited them to eliminate his father because of an unresolved issue the Oba had been having with his mother,” he said.

The PPRO said that one locally made Double Barrell pistol, two live cartridges and one expanded cartridge were recovered from the suspects.

He added that the son of the Oba, who had taken to flight, was said to have escaped with another gun belonging to the group.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation with the view to charge them to court on conclusion of the investigation.

The CP also ordered a massive manhunt for the fleeing son of the Oba, to bring him to justice.