……as police parade 32 cultists, 36 others for robbery, kidnapping
……..Recover arms, ammunitions
Men of the Ogun state police command have arrested two cemetery attendants for removing corps from burial groumd, dismembering them before selling them in parts to interested buyers.
The suspected ritualist, Jimoh Olanrewaju and his accomplice, Seun Babatunde, who worked as attendants at the two cemetery located in Oke – Yidi area of Lantoro, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital were arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (F-SARS) following the police intelligence report which indicted them.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu who paraded the suspected ritualists explained that the duo of Jimoh and Seun live on the proceeds realised from exhuming and dismembering corps already buried.
During interrogation with newsmen, the 62 years old Jimoh, who claimed to be a bricklayer confessed to committing the crime.
Jimoh, a father of three children explained that he usually goes after under-aged corps, particularly those who died between the ages of 13 and 20 years and their relations buried them amidst sadness without bothering to erect tomb on them.
While mentioning one Alhaji Olawale (now deceased) who resided in the Ita -Eko area of Abeokuta metropolis as one of his prominent customers, Jimoh also confessed to selling a dried human head for N10, 000 each.
He however, pleaded for mercy, saying that he acted in ignorance.
Aside from the duo of Jimoh and Seun, the command also paraded 68 other criminal suspects among whom were 32 members of a dreaded cult group who were rounded up at Ilese area of Ijebu-Ode as well as an hotel in the Abeokuta metropolis.
CP Iliyasu explained that the 32 cult members were arrested while carrying out a mass initiation of 309 new members at Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode.
The police boss stated that the police operatives swooped on the cultists who had being on the wanted list of the command since 7th July, 2017 when the police burst their planned anniversary which they tagged, “7-7 Anniversary”.
Following their foiled attempt to launch the planned attack on the state last July however, the cult group allegedly planned to initiate 309 new members as a feat to celebrate another anniversary slated for 30th September, 2017.
While one was arrested at Ijebu-Ode and 31 other members of the cult group, most of who were in their early 20s, were arrested at an hotel located in the Oke-Yidi area of Abeokuta, the over 200 other members allegedly fled the scene upon sensing the dangers of police presence.
Items recovered from them included four Pump-Action guns; two cut-to-size locally made double barrel pistol; 11 live cartridges; axes and cutlass as well as T-Shirts bearing inscriptions of “Aye Confraternity” logo among others.
The police also paraded 36 other suspected criminals whose offences ranged from armed robbery, kidnapping, consignments-laden truck snatching as well as three fake soldiers.
Speaking earlier with newsmen, CP Iliyasu explained that harvest of the suspected criminals was part of the police operation tagged “criminal mop-up” aimed at stepping up crime fighting across the state.
“In view of the fact that we are now in ‘Ember’ months which traditionally is always the peak of criminal activities, the Ogun state police command decided to step up its crime fighting efforts by taking the war against crime to the doorsteps of the criminals so as not to give them any leverage to attack the good people of the state”.
While enjoining parents to prevail on their children to keep off cultism, the CP further maintained that Ogun command is ready to make the state an uncomfortable zone for criminals.
