Stories by Ahmed Ajikobi
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested 11 people in connection with cult related killings and clashes in the state in recent time, Pilot Crime can report.
The suspects were arrested by men of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the state police headquarters, a reliable police source had divulged to this medium over the weekend.
According to the source, those arrested are top notches of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities.
Identities of nine of the suspected cultists in police net obtained exclusively by this medium are: Alaya Hamed of Alaya compound, Emir’s road, Ilorin; Olaitan Usman of Ile Elesin compound, Elekoyangan Gambari, Ilorin; Lateef Rasaq of Eleran compound, Ojagboro, Ilorin; Musa Imam Fulani of Imam Fulani compound, Baboko, Ilorin; Musa Yakub Atanda of Elelu compound, Ilorin and Jamiu Sarafa of Oke-Bale,ย Isale Kannike, Ilorin.
Others are Oseni Taiwo Toheeb of Onibata compound, Gambari, Ilorin; Oganija Akeem Olaitan of Oganija compound, Ilorin and Adeyemo Tunde Habeeb of Ile Agbopa, Offa.
Some of the suspects were reportedly arrested at their hide out in Kulende area of Ilorin.
It was gathered that the arrests were made following a matching order by the state Police Commissioner, Ado Lawan for manhunt of cultists terrorising the state.
The source disclosed that efforts are on to nab other suspects while those in custody are giving lead for arrest of other suspected cult members.
Speaking on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed arrest of the eleven suspects.
Speaking in a telephone interview with our reporter, he said the suspects were arrested in connection with the killings within the Ilorin metropolis.
Okasanmi said that the suspects are being interrogated to give lead for arrest of other suspected cultists.
When asked to confirm names of the suspects he said, ” I was only informed that eleven (people) have been arrested and investigation is still on. I don’t have their names.”
Okasanmi said that police would not rest on its oars until the state is rid of cultism and other crimes.
Recall that the Ilorin Emirate Descendant Union (IEDPU) had revealed that no fewer than 30 people had been murdered by cultists within the last 6 months.
This was made known by National President of the union, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi at a security stakeholders meeting held in Ilorin recently.
IEDPU, an umbrella body of all socio-cultural organisations in Ilorin, lamented the high rate of cult killing in the state.
It listed some areas, with the state capital notorious for cult activities to include Agbo-Oba, Gada, Edun, Gambari, Ajikobi, Oke-Suna and Stadium road among others.
The List: 1. Alaya Hamed 2. Olaitan Usman 3. Lateef Rasaq 4. Musa Imam Fulani 5. Musa Yakub Atanda 6. Jamiu Sarafa Oke 7. Oseni Taiwo Toheeb 8. Oganija Akeem Olaitan 9. Adeyemo Tunde Abeeb.
