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Men of the Oyo State Police command on Friday paraded 13 suspected cultists belonging to various cult groups in the state.
The Commissioner of Police(CP) in the state, Shina Olukolu while parading the suspects said that as part of efforts to reduce crime in the state, the police have employed a proactive approach and sustainable community policing in the last few weeks.
It would be recalled that the command had recently raised an alarm over intelligence reports of possible cult clashes in the state between a secret cult group, popularly known as ‘Aiye Confraternity’ and ‘Buccaneer’, otherwise known as ‘Eiye Confraternity’ on July 7.
According to Olukolu, “some members of the dreaded Aiye Confraternity who have been inflicting various acts of violence and nefarious activities on members of the public, and have been terrorizing members of the public within Ibadan metropolis, were arrested where they converged to initiate new members into the secret cult.
“Sequel to information, a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives together with the local vigilante group were quickly drafted to the area, the suspects were arrested.”
The suspects paraded are: Durodola Olamide, Femi Aluko, (both ex-students of College of Education, Oyo), Faroyeje Ayanfe, George Ifeanyi (both ex-students of Ekiti State University), Abdulahi Musa, Isiaka Jubril, Onadolapo Kolawole, Ridwan Yekini, Moronfade Opeyemi, Ojebisi Johnson, Popoola Seun, Afeez Fatai, and Taiwo Adeyemi.
The CP stated that the suspects were arrested in Igbo Oloyin, Ojoo, Oyo town, and Bodija. He disclosed that exhibits recovered from them include three cutlasses, one empty cartridge shell, one black axe berret, five Aiye customised berret cap, one full Aiye customised regalia which were to be used for initiation rites and some weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
The command also paraded two suspects, Abdullahi Basiru and Adekola Martins, for being in possession of human skulls.
Olukolu said the suspects were intercepted by a patrol team attached to Ikoyi Ile-Ogbomoso road.
His words: “Police patrol team attached to Ikoyi Ile/Ogbomoso road intercepted the suspects from Oja Fulani Area of Ede, Osun State with two human skull, upon the interrogation, the suspects were unable to give a satisfactory account of the two human skull in their possession.”
He however reiterated the firm commitment of Oyo State police command to always perform their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of residents, urging members of the public to continue to support and cooperate with the police by providing useful and vital information whenever they suspect criminal activities in their vicinity.
One of the suspects who spoke to newsmen confessed to the crime, saying that they were sent by one Alhaji Semiu from Igbeti area of Oyo State before they were intercepted by the police.