Three young men suspected to be members of a rival cult group have been found dead with their left hands chopped off in an abandoned building in Ijoko-Ota, Ogun State.
The incident, which happened on Wednesday, October 13, 2023, is believed to be a reprisal attack by the Eiye Confraternity on the Aiye Confraternity.
The deceased, who were identified as Memory, Rilwan and an unnamed third person, were said to have been macheted to death by their assailants in the early hours of the day.
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident and said it had launched an investigation into the matter.
The Spokesperson for the command, SP Omolola Odutola, said a community leader from Abibatun Toronbi had reported the discovery of the bodies in an uncompleted building that also served as a criminal hideout in the area.
She said some of the deceased were known cultists who had been on the police wanted list for several crimes.
She said, “A community leader in Abibatun Toronbi Community Ijoko Ogun State reported to Ijoko Police Post that on the 13th of October, 2023 that three unidentified young men were found macheted to death in an abandoned building /criminal hideout within their community.
“Upon receipt of the report, policemen arrived the scene and observed that the deceased left hands were cut off. Two were identified as Alias Memory and one Rilwan a suspected cultist of the Eiye Confraternity group who have been on the police look out for several crimes. Corpses were evacuated and deposited at the morgue for further investigation, while the Area is under close monitoring.”
She added that the police had gathered more information about the activities of the cult groups and their connections to other criminal acts in the area.
She said, “The police has initiated a thorough investigation into the killings with the assistance from local informants. This led to the identification of the number one Eiye Confraternity as members of a rival cult group, the Eiye confraternity.
“Efforts are ongoing to gather more information about the activities of these cult groups and their connections to other criminal acts in the area. The police are committed to bringing all perpetrators involved in cultism and related crimes to justice, ensuring the safety and security of the community.”
She appealed to the public to continue providing valuable information to the police to aid further investigation and the apprehension of other individuals involved in criminal activities in the area.
She also called for collaborative efforts with the community as this was said to be very essential in combating cultism and ensuring a peaceful and secure environment for all residents.
