Many Killed, Several Injured As Suspected Cultists Unleash Mayhem in Sagamu
… In Sagamu, almost everyone young is a cultist” Police Force PRO Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi
.. Ogun Imposes Curfew On Sagamu Over Cult War
By Aremu Sosanya
Residents of Sagamu, in Sagamu local government area of Ogun State, now live in fear, as no fewer than 20 young men were said to have been killed as the Eiye and Aiye confraternities resumed their usual supremacy battle in the town.
It was gathered that the supremacy battle, which started on Friday, was said to have claimed the lives of about 20 young boys, including secondary school pupils.
Speaking on the development on the condition of anonymity, a resident of Sagamu lamented that the town had been on edge since Friday as people go about in fear, so as not to be victims of stray bullets from the cultists.
The source listed Agbowa behind Ewusi Palace, Makun, Ijagba, Ajaka, Isale Oko and Sabo as centre of the mindless killings in the ancient town.
The source said, “those boys have started killing themselves since Friday. As we speak, they must have killed about 20 people but many of these victims were innocent.For instance, three secondary schools students who had gone to cut their hairs on Sunday in preparation for the school resumption today, Monday were gunned down around Sabo.
“The target was actually the owner of the barbing saloon, but when he wasn’t found there, the cultists decided to kill those that were found in the shop. About four people were also killed on Ode Lemo road under the same circumstances. The target of the cultists was also not around when they came calling in the middle of the night, but they killed the four people they met in his room. It is terrible and no one can really say this is why they are fighting.
“Everyone is tired of this unnecessary and useless bloodshed and that is why we desire that when these boys are caught, they should not allow them to be back to town after three months. The law should be more hard on them and it is about time the Sagamu community with the support of the government take more decisive actions over these criminals.
“It’s a menace that is giving Sagamu a bad name. One thing I have also realised is that we now have so much of drugs in the town. You will always see these boys in different joints and corners with drugs, I think government should look towards that direction too because once you have taken drugs you can do whatever you like”.
Reacting to the cult killings in Sagamu on his X handle, the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi,
said the situation goes beyond the deployment of an anti-cultism squad only, stressing that all hands must be on deck.
He said, “Sagamu case goes beyond the mere anti cultism squad. The elders know how to handle them. The politicians know what to do. I was in their midst in Sagamu between 2006 and 2008. But no single cult clash before I left in 2008. I worked then with the late Akarigbo, Oba Michael Sonariwo and others”.
The Force PRO added that the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Alamutu, should look inward and take action on the report by some residents that the cultists are well known to security agents.
“I will engage the CP on this. Whoever is dealing with cultists and criminals must not compromise. That person must stand firm, and operate against all odds.”
Adejobi added, “Most of those who cause this wahala (problem) in Sagamu are not even Sagamites. At times, they come from Ijebu Ode or Ago Iwoye to strike and move. In some cases, they come as far as Edo State. It’s a problem that the whole system must tackle, not only the security forces. It requires multi-track diplomacy.
“We will discuss this with the CP and take the necessary steps. In Sagamu, almost every young one is a cultist. Okada riders, artisans, etc. are into cultism even more than students, and I think the whole town and Remoland, in general, should take action on it.
“I think the community should rise up to it. They should have an urgent meeting with the heads of all the quarters in Sagamu with the police and vigilante group to address this matter. Sagamites know and understand what I am saying here. I worked in sagamu for almost 2 years.”
A detachment of police have already been deployed to the troubled spots
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of nine suspects following the killing of about eight persons over the weekend in Sagamu as rival cult groups clashed.
Speaking on the crisis during at a press briefing in Abeokuta, CP Abiodun Alamutu revealed the remote cause of the clashes to be a land transaction that took place in the town.
“A land was sold and some form of commission or settlement was paid to a cult group by the owner of the land. A rival cult group got to know about the payment and went after members of the other group in a bid to get a share of the commission.
“The situation degenerated into an attack and counter attack which started from Wednesday las week and continued till Sunday, leading to the death of eight persons,” the Police boss said.
Speaking further, he revealed the arrest of some of the kingpins of the rival cult groups. “About nine suspects have been arrested as we speak with evidences of their involvement in the killings. Two guns and some rounds of cartridges with evidences that they were recently fired, were recovered from the suspects,” he added.
Investigation, according to the Police boss, is still ongoing into the killings. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Local Government Area, has imposed a restriction on the use of motorcycles in the area between 7pm and 6am daily as authorities battle to restore peace to the troubled town.
Giving the names of some of the arrested suspects,
On her part, the command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola listed those arrested to include; Asaiye Omolaja, Azeez Nofiu, Mathew Adewale, and Bolaji Ogunkemaya.
“It is worth noting that Bolaji Ogunkemaya was found with the four deceased persons in the same room where the killings occurred. One individual, Wasiu, managed to escape before the authorities arrived”.
“During the raid, Bolaji Ogunkemaya provided critical information, stating that their leader, known as Azubuike aka ‘better’, had been arrested by the Area Commander a fortnight ago.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has directed security agencies in the State to rid Sagamu and its environs of the menace of cultists and cult-related activities.
Governor Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, regretted the avoidable loss of innocent lives and wanton destruction of properties by the hoodlums.
According to him, the police and sister security agencies have been given a matching order to deal ruthlessly and decisively with those disturbing the peace of the town.
Reiterating the state government’s zero tolerance to acts of brigandage and lawlessness, Abiodun warned that those responsible for this current crisis will find themselves to blame.
He said: “as a responsible and responsive government, we are very sad with the resurgence of activities of criminal elements under different outlawed groups, raising unnecessary tension in the sleepy town of Sagamu and its environs.
“Let me categorically state that we are more than determined to put an end quickly to the nefarious activities of these hoodlums and enemies of our people; who are hellbent to truncate the peace of our land.
“Let these urchins be rest assured that the State will be too hot for them to operate as we are reevaluating the security architecture for greater surveillance and tactical operation”.
The governor noted that the new security approach would be implemented in collaboration with the traditional institution, community and religious leaders, youth groups, as well as other critical stakeholders.
Abiodun, therefore, appealed to the people to provide adequate and useful information to security agents for prompt response to prevent future occurrences.,
Ogun govt restricts movement in Sagamu
Following the clashes the Ogun State government has announced restriction of movement from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The government, therefore, urged residents of the town to abide by the restriction order pending the time the security of the area will improve, as police and other security agencies are on top of the situation to restore normalcy.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Lekan Adeniran, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Monday.
The statement assured residents of the town of their security and property.
“This is to notify residents of Sagamu and its environs of total restriction of human and vehicular movement as a way of taking firm control of the security architecture of the area and protect the lives of the people and their property.
“We, therefore, implore the residents of the area to abide strictly by this restriction order and cooperate with security agencies to restore normalcy and bring perpetrators of these dastardly acts to book immediately,” the statement read.
