Crime
Police arrest seven suspected cultist over Sagamu cult clash
An operation carried out by a joint team of operatives of the Ogun State Police Command and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has led to the arrest of no fewer than seven suspected cultists in Sagamu, Ogun State.
SP Omolola Odutola, the Police Public Relations Officer at Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out in response to a report of a clash between two rival cult groups, namely Aiye and Eiye, resulting in the deaths of four individuals at Ewu Iya Sunday in Sakura.
The command noted that its operatives responded swiftly to information on the cult clash between the rival cult groups, which led to the arrest of seven suspected cultists.
The statement reads, “On September 17th, 2023, the Ogun State Police Command in Sagamu conducted a successful raid led by ACP Shehu Alao in collaboration with the VGN (Vigilante Group of Nigeria).
“This operation was carried out in response to a report of a clash between two rival cult groups, namely Aiye and Eiye, resulting in the deaths of four individuals at Ewu Iya Sunday in Sakura.
Upon receiving the information, the area commander swiftly mobilized more personnel to the scene to prevent the clash from escalating and to apprehend the cultists involved.
“As a result, seven suspected cultists were arrested, and further investigations led to the recovery of a firearm, three live cartridges, and a criminal charm. The individuals apprehended were Asaiye Omolaja, Azeez Nofiu, Mathew Adewale, and Bolaji Ogunkemaya.
“It is worth noting that Bolaji Ogunkemaya was found with the four deceased persons in the same room where the killings occurred. One individual, Wasiu, managed to escape before the authorities arrived.
“During the raid, Bolaji Ogunkemaya provided critical information, stating that their leader, known as Azubuike, aka Better, had been arrested by the Area Commander a fortnight ago. This information underscores the commitment of the police to dismantle these criminal networks.
“To address the alarming rise in cult-related violence, the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamatu Abiodun Mustapha, personally visited Sagamu on the morning of September 18th to assess the situation firsthand and profile all the suspects apprehended.
CP Mustapha sternly warns all cultists in Ogun State that their activities will no longer be tolerated. He has declared a zero-tolerance policy towards senseless killings and vows that none of these cultists will go unpunished.”
