By Ahmed Ajikobi
Palpable tension engulfed Ilorin, Kwara State Saturday morning as suspected cultists unleashed terror on a team of Police detectives from the Special Tactical Squad (STS) FIB, Abuja.
The incident, which caused widespread pandemonium, occured in Lajolo area around Kwara State Polytechnic.
National Pilot gathered that the exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the suspected cult gang lasted for about an hour, which made residents to scamper for safety and disrupted free flow of traffic in the area.
It was learnt that a crack team of police detectives had raided the area following alleged murder of a student of Kwara State University Friday night by suspected cultists, which led to arrest of four suspects.
However, the cultists alongside some students were said to have protested the raid and consequently attacked the security agents, leaving one police Sergeant, Adebayo Abdulahi injured in the wake of the clash.
Reacting to the development, the Kwara State Police Command confirmed the attack on the police officer by suspected cultists.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ajayi Okasanmi.
The statement reads in part: “the pandemonium experienced today within the area arose as a result of the attack unleashed on a team of Police detectives from the Special Tactical Squad (STS) FIB, Abuja, who came on the trail of some cultists in the area.
Recall that, cultists attacked and killed a student of Kwara State University, Malete yesterday 28/1/2022. Four of the cultists were arrested and dangerous weapons were recoverd from the suspects. Information available to the STS team indicated that some of the cultists were hiding at Lajolo area of Kwara Polytechnic Ilorin, where similar attack was unleashed on one student named Idris Aderemi by same cultists at about 0600hrs today 29/1/22, in the same area. This prompted the visit to the area by the STS team.
“Surprisingly, the cultists who were already in ambush, attacked the police team damaging the police Hummer bus and inflicting a gunshot injury on the head of one police Sergeant, Adebayo Abdulahi attached to the STS team. In the ensuing inbroglio, students in their numbers came out to block the road and prevented free flow of traffic and burning tyres on the road.
“The Commissioner of Police Kwara State, CP Tuesday Assayomo psc (+) immediately dispatched teams of Policemen to the area to restore peace.”
He allayed fears of the general public, assuring that calm has been totally restored in the affected area, while Policemen were on standby to forestall any further act of lawlessness from any quarters.
According to the police spokesperson, two cultists, one Ahmed ‘m’ surname unknown and one Musibau ‘m’ A.K.A Shaban was arrested with one fabricated English pistol with 3 live ammunition, 2 live cartridges and one pistol magazine, while the injured policeman and the suspects had been taken to the hospital for treatment.
However, the Kwara State Polytechnic authority has debunked the rumour that the Polytechnic Campus was under siege by students protest.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer, Abdulkadri Yunus said, “It is pertinent to clear the air that the Polytechnic students are law abiding citizens and will not indulge in any illegal activity that will disrupt their academic careers.”
The statement claimed that the incident that occurred at Lajolo community that fateful day was between the Police and Lajolo community and had nothing to do with the Polytechnic students or the Campus, as first semester CBT examinations was ongoing without any disturbance.
The PRO in the statement announced that the management had rescheduled examination of the students till further notice.
“However, the management of the Polytechnic has magnanimously accepted the plea of the students who could not make it to the campus before the blockage at Oyun, to rescheduling their examinations on another date to be communicated to them via their heads of the department.”
