Operatives of Ondo state police command have arrested 25 suspects in connection with the recent cult clash in Owo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Wilfred Afolabi, the state commissioner of police revealed this during the parade of the criminal suspects over the weekend.
Recall that the clash which reportedly claimed four lives, prompted the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to impose a dawn-to-dusk curfew in Owo town on Monday.
Afolabi said, “We have arrested 25 individuals in connection with the recent crisis in Owo. Eight suspects were found culpable. Few suspects have been identified as having direct involvement in the criminal activities.”
“Olamide Ogunseyila, 28, confessed to being a member of a cult group. Gbenga Bisi, 25, (Wife of Steven Dada, also known as “Ogodo,” who is currently on the run) was apprehended alongside Gbenga Esther, 20, at a hideout where the Police found a double-barrel, cut-to-size gun, two expended cartridges, and additional ammunition.”
“Ijarotimi Taye, 61, the Police discovered physical injuries round his body and could not give a satisfactory account on how he got the injuries raising suspicions about his involvement. The duo of Bero Adeola, 30, and Olabode Ojo, 30, (A.k.A Paw paw) who claimed his brother’s wife and child were killed in the melee was arrested in their hideout in Akure.”
“They both confessed to be cultists belonging to Ave group and claimed its Eiye and Aiye group that are fighting. The Suspects claimed they left Owo because of the fight because they do not want to be part of it. Ijalade Olorunfemi and Ayodele Olayemi. Both have been implicated as cultists through ongoing investigations.”
The commissioner added the remaining suspects are currently undergoing thorough interrogation to ascertain their roles in the crisis.
He said the command is so intensifying efforts to apprehend Steven Dada and any other individual connected to the criminal activities.
Afolabi noted that the command also arrested and paraded one Monday Elela for allegedly killing his 14-year-old son, Tope, for stealing in Akoko north-west LGA of the state.
The boy had died after being beaten by his father, following his escape from the custody of the state security network codenamed Amotekun Corps.
Elela while speaking to journalists, said his son was a disgrace to the family, as he engaged in housebreaking, stealing, and other criminal offenses, adding that he did not know Tope would die from the beating.
According to reports, Elela and his wife who escaped from town had buried their deceased son in a shallow grave under a banana tree behind their house.
