Nigeria: Six cultists nabbed while fighting over gun deal

Four Lagos-based suspected cultists and two others have been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command in Odogbolu.

The suspects were arrested while allegedly making arrangements to purchase a locally-made pistol for an operation.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement.

Oyeyemi said Oluwadamilare Aboyeji, Matthew Adebiyi, Jacob Solomon and Iliasu Jubril were based in Ikorodu, Lagos State, while Segun Olubanjo and Samuel Olaniyan were based in Odogbolu.

According to the PPRO, the suspects were arrested on November 27, 2020, in Odogbolu when the four Lagos-based alleged cultists came to meet Olubanjo and Olaniyan to foment trouble as a result of a gun transaction between the two groups.

Oyeyemi said, “Investigation revealed that the Ikorodu-based suspects contracted Samuel Olaniyan to purchase a locally-made pistol for them, and when the gun was delivered, they discovered that the pistol was not serviceable; hence they came with full force to deal with the Odogbolu-based cultists for betraying their trust.

“While the pandemonium was going on, a distress call was made to the Odogbolu Division, consequence upon which the DPO, SP Awoniyi Adekunle, quickly led his men to the scene, where the six suspects were apprehended.

“Recovered from them were one locally-made pistol and two live cartridges.”

The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had directed that the suspects and exhibits be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation with a view to charging them.