metro

Ogun: Two down as cultists operate in broad daylight, ignore Gov Abiodun’s threat

Published

3 years ago

November 4, 2021

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun

The once peaceful Ogun State seems to be gradually becoming a ‘battlefield’ where cultists carry out their nefarious activities with no holds barred, DAILY POST reports.

Lately, cultists and other criminal gangs have dared the police and the state government by going after their victims in broad daylight, killing and maiming.

This is happening in spite of threats by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, that he would deal decisively with cultists, demolish their houses and prosecute their parents.

“If I catch anybody engaging in cultism, the person, his parents and their house will be severely dealt with.

“Any house where a cultist is discovered will be demolished. Parents should warn their children because it is going to be tough.

“Our state is adjudged the most peaceful state in this country. Without peace, there cannot be meaningful socio-economic development. So, we will deal decisively with anyone that wants to disturb our peace in this state,” the governor seriously warned recently.

However, it appears the cultists in Ogun were not moved by the governor’s threat as cult clashes became a regular occurrence in the Gateway State, especially in Abeokuta, the State capital and in Ijebu-Ode.

Recently, Abiodun admitted that cultism is one of the security challenges facing the State. He, however, said he believed “that the cult activities have abated now because of the joint efforts of the Nigeria Police, the State Security Services and the Nigerian Army.”

READ ALSO:

But, the current reality in Ogun did not correlate with Abiodun’s claim that cult clashes were abating in the State. This is because the cultists, who usually carried out their deadly clashes at night before, have now been emboldened to the extent of chasing a victim on a motorcycle until he was hacked to death at Kuto around 2:30pm on Tuesday.

That same day, another young man simply identified as Alagbole was killed by the same set of people at Elite road, Abeokuta, in the full glare of traders and passers-by.

The cultists threw a section of Abeokuta into confusion by parading the metropolis on about three motorcycles with dangerous weapons without any regard for security agents.

The police in Ogun State has confirmed the worrisome incident that left many disturbed, adding that some of those behind the criminal acts have been arrested.

While confirming that one person was killed at Elite road, Oyeyemi said he was yet to be briefed about the Kuto incident.

But a reliable source confirmed to our correspondent that the okada rider hacked at Kuto had his body deposited at a mortuary in Abeokuta.

Oyeyemi said the killings could not be unconnected with the usual supremacy battle between the various cult groups.

Interestingly, when the killings were going on in Abeokuta yesterday, Gov Abiodun was in Lagos, revealing how the state under his watch had been tackling insecurity and making Ogun safe for investors.

Abiodun spoke at the 2021 Capacity Building Workshop for security agencies in Lagos and Ogun States, organised by the Nigeria Police Force, Zone II Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.

According to him, local vigilantes, Community Development Associations and the Amotekun Corps had been mainstreamed into the state security architecture to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in policing Ogun.

He pointed out that the current insecurity in the country could be reduced to the barest minimum if more jobs were created and more youths empowered.

“Fighting insecurity is not just by arming the police and the military. There is a nexus between insecurity, poverty, education, drug abuse and all other socio-economics indices. As much as it is good to equip the police as we have done that in Ogun. It is important to ensure that we look at the various interventions on how to reduce unemployment,” he added.

Abiodun said state-based security agencies had been created to deal with peculiar security challenges because the national police would not be able to handle the enormous security issues in all parts of the country.

However, speaking on the security challenges in Ogun, a resident, Michael Ogunsiji, said: “Governor Dapo Abiodun declared open 2021 Capacity Building for Nigeria Police Force in Lagos with the theme: ‘Internal security operations in a democratic dispensation.’

“But, his home state, cultists are having field days carrying arms and other dangerous weapons freely without any disturbance; killing two people at Elite road and Kuto today in broad daylight. Yet, some ‘no brainers’ are saying Ogun is safe in the hand of the Governor.

“If this can happen in the state capital without anyone challenging these criminals and other security threats, what would be the faith of the rural settlers?

“Mr. Governor, the killings are getting too much. You need to wake up and do something.

“Residents of Sapon, Oke-Ijemo, Ake, Ijemo, Ago-Oko, Oke Lantoro, Leme, Mokola, Saje, Ajitadun, Arinlese, Oju Ogbara, Ijaiye, Ilugun cannot sleep with their two eyes closed.

“It has worsened to the extent that, residents and shop owners of these areas have to close their businesses as soon it is 7pm for fear of cultists attacks.”

Meanwhile, other residents of Abeokuta have called on Abiodun to make good his threat by waging serious way against cultism and other acts of criminality in the State, especially kidnapping which the governor himself has identified as another challenge.

One Dayo Akanbi narrated how cultists trouble places like Ijemo, Ilogbo, Ago Oko, Isale Ake, Ejigbo, Oke Lantoro and others, asking the police and government to take action.

He said, “There is no more security in Abeokuta again. On daily basis, cultists engage in clashes, fighting and killing one another. They are even using the opportunity to rob people in places around Abeokuta. The government should do something before everything gets out of hand.”

In his word, a commentator, Akorode Khameel, asked, “Where were the security operatives when these cultists were butchering an Okada rider without getting disturbed right in the act?”

Khameel spoke further that, “Talk of the spate of insecurity again in the state and the country in general. How did we get here? I know cultists have no regard for values but, what about laws? Now people will start living in perpetual fear. The government should please make Abeokuta and other areas in the state safe for us.”

David Adegbola suggested that Ogun government should set up a joint security patrol, involving the police and the military.

“I think there should be a joint task patrol in the state, especially Abeokuta metropolis. It is not until an election is coming before joint task force patrol should come up. Also, it should be made up of police, the Army, Navy and other security agencies.”

Daily Post

Up Next

Retired NPA GM, Bashir Abdullahi kidnapped in Kano

Don't Miss

Gunmen attack UNIABUJA again, lecturer escapes abduction

metro

Fire razes police station, buildings in Lagos

Published

3 minutes ago

January 1, 2025

Trends Admin

Fire razes police station, buildings in Lagos

A fire outbreak has razed the Okokomaiko police station and surrounding buildings in Lagos, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.

According to LASEMA’s permanent secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the inferno started in a diesel tanker carrying 10,000 gallons of fuel.

He stated that the tanker caught fire while supplying diesel to a network tower near the police station.

According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the inferno spread fast to surrounding properties, devouring police station offices, three bungalows, and parts of a hotel.

The statement said, “Following distress calls received via the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency Lines at 12:38 hrs, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans and its Emergency Response Team from the Igando Base,” the statement read.

READ ALSO:

“Upon arrival at the incident scene, a loaded diesel tanker (registration number unknown) was found to have caught fire at the aforementioned location.

“Further investigation revealed that the diesel tanker, laden with 10,000 litres of diesel, was supplying a network mast at the aforesaid location when it caught fire while discharging its contents.

“However, the fire reportedly spread to adjoining buildings, one of which is Okokomaiko police station, due to negligence. No loss of lives nor injuries were sustained as a result of the fire incident.

“Three bungalows were completely burnt down when the fire reignited, with household properties worth hundreds of thousands of naira affected. One lock-up shop and four containerised shops were also burnt down.

“A generator house of an unknown hotel and their kitchen was also affected. Cables of the PHCN transformer nearby were also affected.”

Oke-Osanyintolu stated that emergency response teams from LASEMA, LASTMA, the fire service, the Nigerian Army, and the police collaborated to control the disaster.

Fire razes police station, buildings in Lagos

metro

EFCC will bring down towers of corruption this year – Olukoyede

Published

13 minutes ago

January 1, 2025

Trends Admin

Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede

EFCC will bring down towers of corruption this year – Olukoyede

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has assured that the agency will surpass its 2024 record in the fight against corruption in 2025

Olukoyede who made the promise in Abuja on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, in a New Year Message to Nigerians affirmed that officers of the Commission will be unrelenting in breaking strongholds of corrupt practices across the country in the new year.

“ Our work is more than a vocation but a patriotic calling. We know this and will always offer our best to move the nation forward. 2025 will be another year of bringing towers of corruption down. Our focus is set and our commitment is total”, he said.

READ ALSO:

The EFCC Chairman also called on Nigerians from all walks of life to be more determined and steadfast in their rejection of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, pointing out that the progress of the country is awaiting their resolve in this regard.

According to Olukoyede, progress and robust development of the commanding heights of the economy and improvement in the quality of lives of Nigerians are hinged on rejection of corruption.

“We can make any progress and development we want for our nation to happen by our support for anti-corruption initiatives. The new year is offering us fresh opportunities to recommit ourselves to the ideals of transparency, accountability, and probity. The commanding heights of the economy and improvement in our lives can only be driven by our dedication to integrity and accountable conduct”.

The EFCC boss also wished Nigerians a happy and prosperous new year.

EFCC will bring down towers of corruption this year – Olukoyede

metro

Two online scammers arrested in Rivers for defrauding woman of N110m

Published

21 minutes ago

January 1, 2025

Trends Admin

Two online scammers arrested in Rivers for defrauding woman of N110m

Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested two suspected online scammers, Michael Onyedikachi and Akachukwu Benedict, for defrauding a Canada-based Nigerian woman of N110m.

The spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 said the victim, Sandra Austin, a resident in Ontario, Canada, was deceived by the suspects into transferring N110m over two years.

Iringe-Koko explained that the scam began in February 2022 when Sandra received a Facebook friend request from an account named “Engineer Desmond Chibuike Okechukwu.

“Initially hesitant, Sandra eventually accepted the request, which led to frequent exchanges of messages. The individual behind the account posed as an engineer capable of assisting her in constructing properties in Nigeria,” the statement read.

READ ALSO:

“The fraud escalated when the suspect persuaded Sandra to move their conversations to WhatsApp, where he shared photos of luxury homes he claimed to have built in upscale areas like Ajah, Lagos.

“Sandra expressed interest in one of the showcased properties, which the scammer claimed would cost N150m. Trusting his claims, she transferred a total of N110m to a provided bank account between 2022 and 2024.

After making a final payment of N30m, she was abruptly blocked from all communication channels.

The scam caused Sandra’s blood pressure to spike, requiring hospitalisation. Determined to seek justice, she contacted her family in Nigeria, who reported the matter to the police.

Following a petition to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the case was referred to the C4i Intelligence Unit in Port Harcourt for a discreet investigation.

“The suspects attempted to intimidate Sandra to deter her from involving the authorities. However, the operatives, through intelligence-led policing, apprehended two suspects,” the statement read.

The first suspect, 29-year-old Michael Onyedikachi from Nkanu West LGA in Enugu State, was arrested on 14 August 2024 in his bungalow in Ama-Okponike, Enugu.

Iringe-Koko said Michael confessed to creating the fake “Engineer Desmond” account and admitted to using downloaded images of construction projects to deceive Sandra.

“Michael spent eight months in Accra, Ghana, learning online fraud techniques. During his arrest, a shrine believed to be linked to his fraudulent activities was discovered in his residence.”

The arrest of Michael led to the apprehension of his accomplice, 29-year-old Akachukwu Benedict, from Ngo-Okpala LGA, Imo State, on 16 August 2024.

Akachukwu was found in a hotel suite in Enugu, which he had booked for a year. He admitted to introducing Michael to online fraud in 2022 and confessed to swindling an American woman out of $600 in 2021.

The suspects revealed that they used cloned SIM cards and cryptocurrency wallets to avoid detection.

Items recovered from them included a Toyota Corolla, land documents, laptops, and mobile phones.

The police stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices, adding that the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

“The swift action by the C4i Intelligence Unit underscores their commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring justice for victims,” the statement concluded.