Sagamu cult clashes: Police arrest more fleeing suspects
Two more suspected cultists, including 36-year-old Taofik Awolaro, and 29-year-old Ojetayo Oluwaseyi, believed to have taken part in the recent four-day cult clash in the Sagamu area of the state, have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, made this known in an exclusive chat with City Round on Friday.
The spokesperson for the state police said the duo of Oluwaseyi and Awolaro were arrested after the police received intelligence about their locations in the Ilishan Remo area of the state on Wednesday.
She said, “Some suspected cultists that fled from Sagamu as free during the cult clashes were arrested by the SWAT team led by ASP Ajayi Yusuf in Ilishan on October 4, 2023. The duo have confessed to being members of the proscribed Eiye Confraternity.”
Odutola added that efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the group who fled the scene during the operation.
The clash which took place weeks ago, purportedly between the Aye and Eye Confraternities, threw the community into pandemonium, leading to the deaths of eight people.
Subsequently, 19 suspects believed to be members of different cult groups, including a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Damilare Bello, and six others, had been arrested in separate operations by the state police and the Department of State Security Services.
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Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command said its operatives at about 1 am on Friday engaged some armed robbers who invaded Remo Majestic Hotel, Sagamu, in a gun duel and fatally wounded two of the robbers while others reportedly escaped with bullet wounds.
The command said one of its officers, an inspector, and two security guards were also shot by the rampaging robbers and that the wounded officers who are currently said to be receiving medical attention are in stable condition.
In a statement issued by Odutola, on Friday, she said at about 01:00hrs a distress call was received by Acpol Sagamu that armed hoodlums were operating at Remo Majestic Hotel in Sagamu.
She added that based on the report, a combined team of policemen was mobilised to the scene.
Odutola explained further that immediately the hoodlums sighted the policemen, and they opened fire on them, while the policemen engaged the hoodlums, two of the hoodlums were fatally wounded while others escaped into a nearby bush with bullet wounds.
“Two locally-made single barrel guns, four unexpended cartridges, thirteen expended cartridges, one big scissors, 10 Android phones, one Java phone, white Toyota Venza car with number plate BWR 123DD Abuja were among the items recovered at the scene of the crime.
“One Police inspector and two security guards were shot by the armed robbers but were rescued to Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital Sagamu for medical attention and are reported to be in stable condition.”
Odutola said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspected armed robbers had earlier mingled with lodgers before launching the dastard attacks.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu has been briefed and he has ordered an immediate manhunt for the two fleeing suspects who escaped with bullet wounds.
