Police in Ogun said on Sunday that it arrested no fewer than eight members of a cult group, Black Axe Confraternity, while mourning one of their members, who died recently.
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement explained that the suspected cultists allegedly shot a 16-year-old boy, Onome Iduru, during the procession in honour of their departed member.
Police listed the arrested suspects as Olatunji Opeyemi, 26; Ayuba Oduola, 25; Sobowale Abiodun, 28; Sobowale Sunday, 25; Adelowo Olalekan, 32; Kareem Lanre, 21; Emmanuel Adebisi, 21; and Tobiloba Wasiu, 20.
The police further alleged that after shooting the victim, the suspected cultists also dispossessed him of his phone and unleashed terror on the community.
The PPRO stated, “The cultists were arrested following a report lodged at the Ogijo Police Station, where the 16-year-old boy was rushed to after he was shot in the stomach by the cultists, who were in a procession in honour of their departed member.
“The cultists, after shooting the victim, dispossessed him of his phone and unleashed terror on the community.
“Upon the report, the DPO Ogijo Division, CSP Muhammed Suleiman, led his men to the scene, where eight members of the violent group were arrested after serious encounter with the policemen.
“A banner designed with the group’s insignia to announce the death of their member was recovered from them, while the injured victim was taken to the Oladayo Hospital for medical attention.”
Already, the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation, Oyeyemi said.
He added, “The commissioner, therefore, warns that any group or individual, who engage in any activity capable of undermining the peace of the state will be dealt with in a very decisive manner.
“He appealed to parents to warn their children not to belong to any unlawful society as the results may be catastrophic.”