Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
No fewer than 13 suspected cultists were monday paraded by the Kwara State police command for allegedly involving in various cult clashes in Ilorin, the state capital.
Rival cult clashes at the weekend allegedly claimed the lives of four persons in the Ilorin metropolis.
The clashes were said to have been sparked by a supremacy battle between the two gangs.
Items recovered from the suspects included one cut-to-size gun; one locally made pistol and five cartridges.
Parading the suspect before journalists in Ilorin yesterday, state police commissioner, Mr. Sam Okaula, however said that three persons actually lost their lives during the street brawls that happened between the two cult gangs at the weekend in Ilorin
Okaula said the state police command had earlier declared two of the arrested suspects wanted.
According to him: “There were rival cult clashes between Saturday and Sunday and some people lost their lives. But like I told you the last time, we will always be on top of the situation; we have effected the arrest of 13 of these notorious cultists. We shall go all out to arrest more of these suspects so that we can have peace in the state.”
He said: “The ones arrested have made useful statement and are undergoing interrogation. We will definitely proceed against them.
“They keep on devising means of attacking their victims. Of recent they have been making use of motorcycles otherwise known as ‘Okada’; they also telephone some of these victims luring them to obscure corners and areas where they attack them. But we have this information at our disposals.”
Okuala added: “Consequently, we have directed District Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders to be on top of the situation.
“We are going to carry out effective checks of these motorcycles; as most of them are being used to commit crime. We are also going to hit them hard; we are going to ensure that we check their activities.”
