One killed as cultists clash in Ogun

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested two members of rival cults, Eiye and Aiye confraternities, following a supremacy battle in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The clash between the groups occurred on Sunday at the Elega-Iberekodo axis of the Abeokuta metropolis, leaving one person dead.

The violence spread to many parts of the state capital, including Sokori, Akin-Olugbade, Iberekodo, among others.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement on Sunday, identified the two suspects as Habeeb Muideen, aka Oko, and Ibrahim, aka Ayin.

He said, “They were arrested following a distress call received by SWAT operatives that a group was engaging in a supremacy battle with another rival cult at the Elega/Iberekodo axis of the Abeokuta metropolis.

“Upon the distress call, the commander, SWAT, CSP Kalejaye Olanrewaju, quickly led his men to the scene.

“On sighting the policemen, the cultists ran in different directions, but were hotly chased and Habeeb Muideen was arrested at Iberekodo, while Ibrahim was apprehended at the Ajitadun area of the metropolis.

“The two suspects are currently undergoing interrogation at the SWAT office to determine their roles in the clash which left one Eiye member dead.

“Recovered from the arrested suspects were battle axes and assorted charms.”

The PPRO, however, said the command had arrested no fewer than 37 members of various cults in the last one month.

Oyeyemi noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had ordered a comprehensive manhunt for the fleeing members of the groups.