The police in Ogun State have arrested three suspected cult members in the Ijoko area of the state in connection with a deadly clash between two rival groups – Eiye and Aiye confraternities ─ in the community.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects, identified as Idris Adejumo, aka Aloma; Muyideen Bello, aka Iso; and Friday Edoh, were apprehended around 8am on Wednesday by policemen attached to the Agbado Police Division shortly after they started fomenting trouble in the neighbourhood.
Edoh claimed to be a member of a vigilance group while Aloma confessed to being a member of Aiye Confraternity. Iso said he was just a friend to Aloma.
Our correspondent had reported on August 7 that three persons died on August 5, while others were injured when the two rival groups clashed. The state police command, however, said only a youth, identified simply as Sunday aka Fele, was killed in the attack.
Fele, who was said to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity had visited his mother on the fateful day with his friend, Olamilekan Oladitan and were returning on a motorcycle when Aloma and his gang members reportedly waylaid them.
Fele was hacked to death, while Oladitan was severely injured and rushed to a hospital.
Oladitan, who was at the station on Wednesday, said, “Sunday met and I were friends. We played together at the palace. We were returning from his mother’s place on a motorcycle that day when Aloma and his members ambushed us. They attacked us and poured alcohol into our mouths. I pretended as if I was dead. Some people later rescued me.”
Aloma told the police that he and six others had gone to Ijoko-Ogba Ayo area on Wednesday to extort money from commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) when he was arrested.
He said, “I was not the one who killed him (Fele). That fight was between boys working for two monarchs in our area. I only know those boys; I don’t belong to any group.
Fele belonged to Eiye Confraternity and he usually stayed at a palace with his members. About seven of us went to collect money from okada riders this morning (Wednesday). We were not fighting.”
Iso, who denied being a cultist, said he was neither involved in the August 5 clash nor the Wednesday’s fight, adding that he was on a visit to a friend when the police raided the area.
He said, “I am not a cultist. I only know Aloma. I was at a drinking joint in Ogba Ayo this morning when he came and we exchanged greetings. He then took anokada to Abule. Some minutes later, I also took anokada to visit a friend called Radical in Abule. Iwanted to leave there when the police arrested me. I was not at home during the clash on August 5.”
Edoh said he was coming from a church in the community, where he was posted to for a night duty when he was arrested.
The Ogun State Police spokesperson, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects were being investigated and would be charged to court afterwards.
He said, “Policemen of the State Department of Criminal Investigation, with the help of operatives at Agbado Police Division, stormed the area this morning (Wednesday) and were able to arrest three suspected cultists in connection with a recent deadly clash in the community.
They have been transferred to the SDCI in Eleweran for further investigation.They will be charged to court after investigation.”
Punch.
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