11 killed by suspected cult members as they mark anniversary in Ogun

No fewer than 11 persons have
been killed by suspected cult
members in Igode and Fakale
communities in the Sagamu area of
Ogun State. Four persons were also
injured while houses and cars were vandalised in the crazy attack that
lasted for about 10 hours.

It was learnt that the hoodlums, said to be Aye Confraternity members, had gone on the rampage at about 11am on Wednesday while commemorating their anniversary tagged 7/7. The grand finale of the anniversary
was reportedly held on Thursday,
July 7, 2016 at Emuren, a
neighbouring community.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about 25 on motorcycles, came from Emuren, wielding guns and cutlasses. Their targets were said to be members of the Eiye Confraternity, a rival cult. The bandits, who reportedly wore masks, shot dead three welders at a junction bordering Emuren and Igode.

The welders were said to be returning from a work site on a
motorcycle. The rampaging cultists reportedly proceeded to the Fakale community, where they opened fire on a crowd watching a football match in a viewing centre, killing seven persons.

It was learnt that one of the
deceased, identified simply as Dare,
was a member of the Oodua People’s Congress. Others were identified as Ibukun, Ismaila, Sunday, and a steel rod seller, Dare Olakanmi. Three of them were said to have been buried.

However, the police had yet to
remove the remains of the three
welders as of 12pm on Thursday. Four others, who were injured, were said to have been taken to a hospital in Sagamu.

When Punch visited the communities on Thursday, it observed that palpable fear had enveloped them. Many residents were said to have fled while commercial activities had
been paralysed as shops were shut. 10 policemen were spotted at a
junction in Fakale.

The Coordinator of the OPC in the
community, Wole Oladunjo, said,
“The fight was between Eiye and Aye confraternities. The Aye members are based in Emuren. The OPC had nothing to do with the fight.
But surprisingly, they (Aye members) came here on Wednesday and started shooting sporadically.
They killed seven persons in a viewing centre.

“One of the deceased was our member. The others killed were not
Eiye members. They were hard
working youths. Four persons are
still in the hospital receiving
treatment. The police picked four corpses and three of them have
been buried.

“The policemen, who came that
evening, were blaring their sirens
from afar and this gave those boys
the chance to escape.” An OPC member, who identified
himself as Ajibola Defence, told
Punch that the hoodlums inscribed
7/7 on those killed and on a
refrigerator they destroyed inside a
shop.

Secretary of the OPC in the community, Idris Lawal, vowed that
his members would avenge the
killings, adding that the victims were
innocent residents. Baale of Fakale, Chief Ganiyu Bisiriyu, lamented the security situation in Ogun State and urged government to ensure the protection of lives and property. The Igode community head, Chief
Rafiu Disu, said the bandits also
vandalised two houses and a car. Two rams belonging to one Olalekan Oyenuga were reportedly killed by the hoodlums.

The Ogun State Police Public
Relations Officer, SP Muyiwa Adejobi,
confirmed the killings, saying that
the police had restored calm to the
area and on the trail of the suspects.”

Read more: SkyNaija Blog