Police Command in Ogun State on Sunday said it has arrested five suspected cultists turned armed robbers along Molipa road in Ijebu Ode, after a gun duel with the suspects.
The command labelled the suspects “dreaded”, adding that they had been placed on the wanted list for a long time.
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The Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Sunday said the suspects, Segun Olabiyi aka Koleje, Musa Atanda aka Musa sars, Olorunjuedalo Adewale, Olamide Odewole and Peter Anuoluwapo Akinyemi, were arrested in their hideout while planning another attack.
Oyeyemi said the Obalende divisional headquarters Ijebu Ode had got a hint that the hoodlums who “are members of Aiye confraternity” had gathered in a hotel while preparing to plan a “deadly attack.”
He said following the Intelligence report, the DPO Obalende division, SP Salami Murphy mobilised his men and headed to the scene.
“On sighting the policemen, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun battle but they were subdued by the superior firepower of the policemen, which eventually led to the arrest of five amongst them while others escaped with bullet injuries,” Oyeyemi said.
He said one locally made short gun, two live cartridges and assorted criminal charms were recovered from the suspects at the scene.
Oyeyemi said a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were “actively involved in various cult clashes that had claimed many lives including that of a serving policeman Sergeant Akeem Oseni attached to Igbeba division.”
He said “Their trademark according to their confession is to cut off the right hand of their victims after killing them. They also confessed to have been involved in some robbery operations in Ijebu Ode and its environs and that one of their prominent leaders simply known as Perth was killed in one of the robbery operations.”
Oyeyemi quoted that the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had applauded “the gallantry and professional performance of his men”, and directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
He added that the CP also charged his officers to take the battle to the doorsteps of all known criminals in the state, to make Ogun State a peaceful place for all.
