By TINA TIMOTHY

The Ogun State Security Network Agency known as Amotekun Corps has in the last two weeks arrested some criminal elements in the state for alleged cultism, stealing and shop breaking.

In a press statement REF NO: AMT/AD.076/98 dated August 15, 2022 signed by the Corps Commander CP David A. Akinremi psc(+)rtd, the operatives said their resolve to rid the state of criminal activities ‘particularly cultism and other related vices’ has been yielding successes as they have not only apprehended various criminals but have gotten confessions from those arrested and handed them over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

The Amotekun Commander further said that the major towns in the state such as Abeokuta metropolis, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo have in recent times been disturbed by ‘cult-related killings, gangsterism’ and other vices and that apart from ‘cult clashes leading to the death of a number of persons in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo’ these criminals ‘were also involved in robbery and dealing with illicit drugs.’ Hence, he expressed satisfaction that the corps has succeeded in nabbing eleven ‘notorious cultists of both Aiye and Eiye Cult groups in some parts of the State.’

The statement reads: “It is indeed heartwarming to showcase yet another in the series of successes recorded by the Ogun State Amotekun Corps in the last two weeks in our determination to rid our State of undesirable elements who are bent on testing our resolve to fight all forms of crime and criminalities particularly cultism and other related vices.”

“It will be recalled that our major towns, have in recent times witnessed all forms of cult related killings, gangsterism and disturbance of public peace.

“These criminal elements perpetrating the dastardly acts in the name of supremacy war have caused so much apprehension to the peace loving residents of the State with Abeokuta metropolis, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo being the most affected.

“However, the Amotekun Corps in taking the war to their door steps with a view to checkmating activities of these criminal elements, has in the last two (2) weeks, arrested eleven (11) notorious cultists of both Aiye and Eiye Cult groups in some parts of the State.

“Besides being members of these cult groups who had been involved in cult clashes leading to the death of a number of persons in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo respectively were also involved in robbery and dealing with illicit drugs (tramadol, S.K, Load, Ice, e.t.c) including weeds suspected to be Indian hemp,” Akinremi stated.

Outlining briefs of the criminal activities for which the suspects all male were arrested and the items recovered, Akinremi said that Ganiyu Femi, Abiodun Durojaiye, Olufemi Olawale, Ariwoola Toheeb and Umar Abdullahi were arrested for conspiracy, stealing and cultism.

He said: “On 4th August, 2022 at about 0707 hours, one Osikoya Noah ‘M’; 14 years, of GRA Sabo, Shagamu was attacked at Ajegunle Junction, Sabo Shagamu by the first four suspects on his way from church service. The suspects told the victim that they were Aiye secret cult members and threatened to kill him if he fails to surrender his Samsung S10 Android phone to them. With this death threat, the victim surrendered his Samsung S10 Android phone valued one hundred and forty thousand naira only (#140,000) and an electronic power bank valued twenty thousand naira (#20,000) to them. When our operatives got wind of this they swung into action which led to the arrest of the four (4) suspects who in their statements confessed the commission of the crime including their membership of Eiye cult group operating in Sagamu as well as their involvement in killing of rival cult members in recent times.

“They also admitted selling the telephone handset and power bank to one Umar Abdulahi ‘M’, a second hand phone dealer in Ogere for twenty thousand naira (N20,000.00).

“The criminal receiver was consequently arrested after painstaking surveillance and he admitted receiving the stolen items from one of the suspects mandated to dispose it but that he has in turn sold the items to an unnamed person.

“Items recovered from the criminal receiver (Umar Abdulahi) includes: Ten (10) Techno Android Phones; Two (2) Small Techno Phones; Eight (8) Infinix Android Phones; Seven (7) Samsung Android Phones; Three (3) Vivo Android Phones; Two (2) Nokia Android Phones; Three (3) Gionee Android Phones; Two (2) Honor Android Phones; One (1) iPhone; Two (2) Hawaii Android Phones; One (1) Itel Android Phone; One (1) China Android Phone; One (1) Phicomm Android Phone; and One (1) Opor Android Phone.

“Other items recovered includes forty four (44) different kinds of second hand phones, thirty nine (39) pouches, five (5) phone cases, nineteen (19) cartons, seven (7) phone batteries, one (1)Infinix charger, seven (7) phone plates, three (3) new airtel sim cards and ten (10) used sim cards.”

The Amotekun Commander further stated that Alimi Raimi, Ayotunde Onakoya, Ogunmade Seun, Ayodele Oreoluwakintan, Taofeek Shita-Bay, Ibikunle Gbenga and Ebiruga Oluwaseun were arrested ‘in connection with a case of conspiracy and cultism.’

“On 6th August, 2022 at about1445 hours, one Ebiruga Oluwaseun (M), reported to Operatives of the Corps, in Ijebu North East Local Government while on surveillance patrol that, the first suspect, Alimi Raimi ‘M’ and one Ola ‘M’ A.K.A. Ebony threatened to kill him over supremacy rivalry as being members of a drug syndicate dealing in sale of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp and other illicit drugs. The rift between them arose, when Ebiruga Oluwaseun ‘M’ allegedly claimed to be a senior in the drug business and accused the first two suspects of snatching his customers. This subsequently led to a free for all fight that attracted the attention of Operatives of the Corps.

“Consequently, all the above named suspects were arrested at different locations in the town and upon interrogation they all admitted being members of Eiye and Aye Cult groups who had been involved in the several killings of rival cult members in Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Ijebu-Igbo. They also admitted membership of the drug ring in the area.

“Items recovered from them include, UTC Axe, Cutlasses and some criminal charms,” he said.

Also arrested were Onyeneho Chukwuemeka, Ibeh Dominion and Adaya Stephen for ‘attempt to commit felony to wit shop breaking’.

According to Akinremi “On 8th August, 2022 at about 2330 hours, the three (3) suspects above were arrested at Folagbade street, Ijebu Ode, by Amotekun operatives in Ijebu Ode Command while breaking into a phone shop.

“When the suspects were quizzed, Onyeneho Chukwuemeka and Ibeh Dominion claimed that they left Owerri, Imo State for Lagos on 25th July, 2022 in search of what to do to sustain their lives. The duo claimed that they slept in Excellent Arena Guest house at Lambe street, Ojodu Berger for three days and subsequently left for Ijebu Ode on 1st August 2022. On arrival at Ijebu Ode, they broke into a phone shop through the ceiling but unfortunately, there was no phone in the shop.

“According to them, in the course of searching for another phone shop to break, they met the third suspect, Adaya Stephen, a native of Warri in Delta state. The said Adaya accommodated them in an uncompleted building where they hid until late at night when they were caught by our Operatives while breaking into another phone shop along Folagbade Street, Ijebu-Ode.”

The Commander, who stated that ‘the suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the State Police Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution,’ reiterated that threats from enemies of the state and their sponsors will not deter the corps from battling all forms of crimes and criminalities, appreciated those who have collaborated with them and further urged others to join in the war.

“All the suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the State Police Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.“Let me at this junction re-iterate that the war against all criminal elements in the State will be sustained with vigor as the threat by these enemies of our dear State and their sponsors will not deter us from carrying out mandate of ensuring a peaceful Ogun State. While appreciating members of the fourth estate of the realm for their collaboration with the Corps in the onerous task, we also appeal to the good people of Ogun State to continue to partner with the Corps so that together we can win the war against all forms of crime and criminalities,” he added.