By Ibrahim Sheriff
No fewer than six (6) cultists were arrested by men of the Nigeria Police force at the palace of a traditional ruler in Ogun state, Oba of Gakoto land, Oba G. O. Olakunle during an attempt to assassinate him.
According to a statement by the Spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force in Ogun state, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi on Monday, Michael Ayodele, Monday Samuel, Ademola Matthew, Hammed Jelili, Ogundele Ojeh and Sunkanmi Fadina, who committed the sacrilege were arrested right at the Oba of Gbokoto’s palace and confessed to have been sent by the sun of the monarch, who is now at large.
The chap, who is currently on the run, had hurriedly left the town after the assassins he sent to kill his father were arrested at the Gbokoto monarch’s palace. Consequently, the Ogun state police command has launched a manhunt for him.
Oba G. O. Olukunle had according to the Police, sent SOS message to policemen at the Oja Odan divisional headquarters at about 4:25p.m informing them that some cultists were about to attack him.
“Upon the distress call, the DPO Oja-Odan division mobilized his men and moved to the palace, where they met the hoodlums shooting sporadically within the palace.
The policemen engaged them in a shoot-out and eventually subdued the cultists and got six among them arrested.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the dreaded Eiye confraternity. They also informed the police that it was the son of the Oba, who is now at large that invited them to come and eliminate his father because of an unresolved issue the Oba has been having with his mother.
“Items recovered from them included one locally- made double barrel pistol, two live cartridges and one expended cartridge’ he said..
Oyeyemi added that the Oba’s son escaped with another gun belonging to the group.
“Ogun state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had since ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the state Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation with a view to taking them to court at the conclusion of the investigation while ordering a manhunt for the Gbokoto monarch’s son in order to bring him to justice”, the statement added.
