Police arrest couple, 17 others for robbery, cultism

Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye

The police in Ogun State have arrested a couple, Okon Ohinme, and Blessing Sunday, in Ogbere, Ijebu-East Local Government Area, for alleged armed robbery.

The police also arrested 17 other suspects for various crimes and offences in the state.

The police said they found the couple in possession of one locally-made pistol and three live cartridges.

While parading the 19 suspects at the state command headquarters, Eleweran, the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said a female neighbour of the couple, Kemi Osho, was also arrested.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police said the Ogbere Police Division received information sometime in December 2013 that the inhabitants of a house at J4 and J6 along Abigi Road were terrorising innocent citizens.

The PPRO said that the police arrested the couple and their neighbour and recovered the weapons from them.

He added that the couple and their neighbour were still being interrogated by the police.

Adejobi further said four members of a secret cult group, Buccaneer Confraternity, were arrested in Sagamu.

He said, “Information was received by Divisional Police Officer, Sagamu Division, that some suspected cultists were inside the bush behind Sagamu Local Government Staff Quarters, initiating new members.

“On receipt of the information, a combined team of policemen and members vigilance group raced to the scene. On sighting the team, the hoodlums opened fire on the team. This was repelled by the police, resulting in the arrest of four of the members while others escaped with their weapons.”

The PPRO said another suspected cult member, Samuel Godwin, who had earlier been placed on the watch list of the police, was arrested in Sagamu and found in possession of N255,000 cash and wraps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp.

The police spokesman also disclosed that four rifles allegedly stolen from security operatives, three locally -made pistols, live and expended cartridges, mobile phones and assorted charms were among the exhibits recovered from the other suspects.

Adejobi said upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspects would be charged to court.