Crime

Six FUOYE Students Arrested over Alleged Cultism

By Web News 1227

Ekiti State Police Command has arrested six suspected cultists in Oye-Ekiti after a tip-off by members of the public.

According to the command’s image maker, Mr Sunday Abutu, the suspects, who had confessed to the crime, claimed to be students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

He said the command received credible information that some members of “Denorsemen Secret Cult Group” were holding a meeting at their hideout in Oye-Ekiti and they were arrested.

“Upon the receipt of the information, the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad mobilized to the scene where six suspected cultists were nabbed.

The suspects are; Omole Paul (21), Okoro Wisdom (22), David Makinlola (20), Egbabo Kester (22), Raymond Ejekwu (21) and Daniel Chiwumba (28).

“Items recovered from the suspects at the scene are:, Two cutlasses, One hammer, two cups of loud hemp, wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and charms.”

On his part, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Mobayo maintained that the arrested suspects would be prosecuted accordingly.

Mr Mobayo implored parents and guardians to always emphasize the dangers of cultism and other criminal activities to their children and wards.

Amos Ogunrinde

Crime

Ikere Ekiti Cult Clash: More Suspects Arrested

By Web News 1788

Additional thirty five suspects have been arrested by the police, following the violent clash between cult rival groups which led to the death of six persons alleged to   be cultists over the weekend.

The Police public Relations officer, Mr Sunday Abutu confirmed this to Radio Nigeria while giving an update on the crisis.

He said that the command now had forty five suspects in its custody having apprehended ten persons yesterday.

The PPRO made it clear that the latest thirty five suspects were arrested during night raids.

Mr Abutu observed that normalcy was gradually returning to Ikere Ekiti,  now that security operatives are patrolling the ancient town.

Radio Nigeria gathered that ten persons were killed during the cult clash but the police insisted that six bodies were found and they had been deposited in the morgue.

It was earlier reported that ten people were arrested in connection with the cult clash.

Amos Ogunrinde

Crime

Ekiti Local Government Staff Found Dead On Farm

By Web News 863

The corpse of an Ekiti West Local Government Staff, Pastor Kayode Ogunleye was on Saturday found at a reserved forest located along Aramoko/Ijero Ekiti Road.

According to report, the deceased who is a cleric with the All Christian Fellowship was shot by unknown gunmen in his farm located at the reserved forest.

Some of the residents of Aramoko Ekiti who spoke with our correspondent described the killing as wickedness and called on the security agents to fish out the murderers.

When contacted on telephone, Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Sunday Abutu confirmed the incident, saying it was a suspected murder case.

Mr Abutu noted that investigation is ongoing to fish out those behind the killing.

Olaniyi Alade

Crime

Armed Robbers Storm Bank, Cart-Away Undisclosed Amount of Cash in Ekiti

By Web News 822

Some suspected armed robbers today raided a new generation bank at Iyin Ekiti.

Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Abutu told Radio Nigeria in Ado Ekiti that officers of the command engaged the suspected armed robbers numbering about ten in a gun battle.

Mr Abutu explained that the suspects who could not withstand firepower of the police left their vehicles and ran into bush.

He stated that officers were still combing the bush to arrest the criminals saying that he could not confirm the total amount of money carted away by the robbers.

Mr Abutu however said there was no casualty during the robbery incident.

Meanwhile, some residents of Iyin Ekiti told radio Nigeria that the suspected robbers shot to the air to scare them away during the robbery.

They also said the armed robbers used dynamites to destroy the doors of the bank before making away with an undisclosed amount of money.

The residents also expressed displeasure that it took the police almost one hour from Ado Ekiti to neighbouring Iyin Ekiti which allowed the daredevil armed robbers escape.

Olaniyi Alade

Crime

Two Dead In Ire Ekiti, As Ogun Festival Turns Bloody

By Web News 1367

Two persons have been allegedly killed in Ire Ekiti, in Oye Local Government of Ekiti state as this year’s Ogun Onire Festival turned bloody.

Spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, Mr Sunday Abutu made this known to Radio Nigeria, Ado Ekiti.

Mr Abutu said the two persons lost their lives when the youths of the community embarked on a violent protest over the attitude of the Onire of Ire Ekiti, Oba Victor Babade to this year’s festival.

The police spokesman confirmed that the youths during the demonstration vandalized the palace of the monarch and as well set ablaze a police patrol van.

However, some youths in Ire Ekiti alleged that four persons were killed by the policemen deployed to the town to maintain peace.

They claimed that two persons were hit by stray bullets while two others were shot dead by the police.

When contacted, the Onire of Ire Ekiti, Oba Victor Babade said he had last week informed indigenes of the town of government’s guidelines on COVID-19, especially social distancing, hence the need to postpone this year’s festival but the youths opposed his decision and went ahead with the festival.

Parts of the Onire’s palace damaged by the protesters

The monarch who stated that he narrowly escaped being lynched by the angry youths, condemned the action of the protesters.

Oba Babade also pointed out that the crisis was politically motivated.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Bimbo Daramola who hails from the town advised the angry youths to give peace a chance. 

Mr Daramola appealed to them to consider Coronavirus ravaging the world as reason for the cancellation of the festival, saying that only the living can celebrate.

Amos Ogunrinde