The police in Ogun on Monday confirmed the arrest of six suspected cultists who allegedly attempted to kill a traditional ruler in the Oja-Odan area of Ilaro in Ogun State.

In a statement on Monday, police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspected cultists were arrested on Saturday while attempting to kill the traditional ruler in his palace.

Mr Oyeyemi gave the names of the suspects as Michael Ayodele, Monday Samuel, Ademola Matthew, Hammed Jelili, Ogundele Ojeh and Sunkanmi Fadina.

“They were arrested following a distress call received at Oja-Odan Divisional Headquarters from the Oba of Gbokoto land, Oba G.O Olukunle, at about 4:25 p.m. that some cultists were about to kill him in his palace.

“Upon the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), Oja- Odan Division, quickly mobilised his men and moved to the palace, where they met the hoodlums shooting sporadically.

“The policemen engaged them in a shootout and eventually subdued the cultists and got six amongst them arrested,” Mr Oyeyemi said.

According to him, the suspects confessed that they belonged to the Eiye confraternity and were invited by the traditional ruler’s son.

“In addition, they also informed the police that it was the son of the Oba who is now at large, that invited them to eliminate his father because of an unresolved issue the Oba had been having with his mother,” he said.

Mr Oyeyemi said one locally made Double Barrell pistol, two live cartridges and one expended cartridge were recovered from the suspects.

He added that the son of the Oba, who had taken to flight, was said to have escaped with another gun belonging to the group.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation with the view of charging them to court on the conclusion of the investigation.

The commissioner also ordered a massive manhunt for the fleeing son of the Oba to bring him to justice. 

(NAN)