A 25-year-old suspected cultist, Azeez Olabiyi, who had been on the wanted list of the police for alleged murder, has been by arrested by Osun State Police Command.
Disclosing this in a press briefing held at the command headquarters in Osogbo, on Thursday, November 4, 2021, the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, told journalists that the suspect, an indigene of Osogbo in Olorunda Local Government Area, was a member of the Aiye Confraternity, popularly known as Black Axe, and had been terrorising the state residents.
The Commissioner of Police said that Olabiyi was arrested during police raid in Agunbelewo Area, Osogbo when he returned from Sagamu, Ogun State where he had hibernated.
Olokode stated further that there had been a manhunt for the suspect since the murder of one Godwin and Jasper at Eseogba area of Osogbo on November 27, 2019.
“He is a member of a syndicate comprising Ayo, popularly known as Asela, Gbotemi and Ridwan who are presently in remand at Ilesa Correctional Centre,” the police boss said.
He added that the suspect confessed to the crime and revealed his joining Aiye Confraternity on December 24, 2019.
Also, a suspect, Olayemi Abidemi Olumide, aged 31, was arrested for robbery, while his accomplice is still at large.
According to the police commissioner, his men engaged in intelligence-led policing after learning that on October 30, at about 11am, Olumide, from Oyan town in Odo-Otin Local Government Area, conspired with one Azeez Ojo and robbed the victim of his necklace and hand chain valued at N50,000.
He said that the suspect confessed to being a member of Aiye Confraternity, as well as his involvement in many cult activities in the state.
Olokode said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to have joined the cult group sometimes in August 2021 in one of the tertiary institutions in the state.
In addition, a 46-year-old suspect, Adeola Olusoga a.k.a TK, was nabbed for belonging to Aye Confraternity and terrorising innocent residents of Oke-Fia, Ofatedo and environs.
He was also said to have specialized in collecting phones, money and other valuable items from innocent persons.
Olokode said that the suspect, from Ijebu-Igbo town in Ogun State, was arrested at Riverside Hotel and Lounge, Osogbo, and had confessed to being involved in many cult activities.
The suspect had further told the command that he joined the cult group sometimes in August 1997 in Abeokuta town.
Olokode also spoke on the on the arrest of three-member armed robbery and cult syndicate who had been terrorizing Oke-Baale area of the state capital.
He gave their names as Ismaila Raheem (22), Eriayo Folorunso (21), and Akintola Sangokunle (21).
CP Olokode said that they were arrested on October 27 and 28 at Kajola area of the capital city.
A victim had reportedly told the police that some members of Eiye Confraternity, led by Raheem a.k.a Agogo, came to her residence with a fabricated pistol, had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and robbed her of one Huawei Smartphone valued at the sum of N17,000.
Another suspect, Badmus Semiu Idowu, aged 29, was nabbed for stealing transmission cables.
According to the police commissioner, in the early hours of November 3, around Kobongbogboe area, the surveillance team on metro patrol sighted a Bajaj motorcycle, with registration number RGB 063 QF, carrying two big bags containing what were later discovered to be transformer cables.
On sighting the police patrol team, those on the motorcycle were said to have jumped down from the motorcycle and escaped into the bush. However, Idowu was arrested.
During interrogation, the suspect had reportedly claimed that he was hired to transport the stolen transformer cables by his friend.
The state police boss mentioned other suspects who were arrested for alleged stealing and obtaining money on false pretence.
Saying that they would be charged to court at the completion of investigations, CP Olokode reiterated the command’s resolve to continue to work tirelessly to set the state free from all kinds of criminal elements.
