By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Kwara State Police Command has so far arrested 12 suspects in connection with the murder of 36-year-old Bolaji Abdulsalam who was mauled down by suspected cultists in Ilorin, last Wednesday.
A police source told this medium at the weekend that five persons suspected to be involved in the act have been apprehended in different parts of the metropolis.
The police had last week nabbed seven suspects following investigation into the matter.
When contacted over the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the arrest, added that investigation is still ongoing into the case.
It would be recalled that the suspected cult members had murdered Abdulsalam, for reporting them to the police in Ilorin.
Abdulsalam was said to have incurred wrath of the cultists, after he found them smoking Indian hemp in front of his family house at Alfa Yahaya area of Ita-Amon in Ilorin township.
The cult members reportedly returned for retaliation, barged into Abdulsalam’s room at night while he was in bed with his wife.
They were said to have attacked him with machetes and killed him in the presence of his wife and daughter.
A witness said: “When Bolaji challenged the cultists for smoking Indian hemp in front of his family’s house, their response to him was not too good. He therefore went to Adewole Police Station, which was the nearest station and reported the incident. Police went to the venue and arrested seven among the smokers.
“The following day, one of the boys escaped from police detention. He came to the disputed place and started smoking Indian hemp again; this time in broad daylight. Bolaji challenged him again.
“Bolaji and the boy started fighting. The boy brought out a pistol and shot Bolaji, but the bullets did not penetrate his body. Bolaji, however, overpowered the boy, collected the pistol and in the process, the boy ran away.
“Bolaji took the pistol to Adewole Police Station to alert them of the new development. Police launched a manhunt for the cultist, they couldn’t locate him.”
It was also learnt that the cultists later came on Saturday, about 3.30a.m., to attack Abdulsalam in his house. They broke the flat’s gate and his room door, where he, his wife and daughter were asleep and killed him by inflicting machete cuts on him.
A neighbour said he heard noise of a door breaking and came out to find out what was going on. He said that he had to run away after he saw the cultists all dressed in black. The remains of Bolaji have been interred according to Islamic rites.
