By: Adeola Oladele, Ibadan
The long arm of the Oyo State Police Command has caught up with a notorious leader of the dreaded cult group known as ‘One Million Boys,’ Moshood Oladokun (32), fondly called ‘Ekugbemi,’ who has been responsible for the spate of violence in places such as Beere, Born Photo, Isale Osi, Mapo, Idi-Aro and several other parts of Ibadan metropolis in recent times.
Moshood Oladokun was among other 166 suspects nabbed for various atrocities, who were paraded before journalists by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Adegbuyiwho, at the Force Headquarters, Eleyele on Friday for other crime related offences.
Three other suspects who were incriminated in the gruesome murder of a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Gideon Aremu on April 1, 2016 were also paraded. The suspects from whom three live cartridges were recovered are Yusuf Jimoh (25), Akeem Tiamiyu (24) and Babarinde Ikeji (29, the gang’s ritualist/spiritualist.
Parading the notorious gang leader, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adegbuyi said he was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command, adding that he was responsible for the spate of violence in some parts of the state.
The CP told newsmen that through intensive investigation during the last yuletide, the notorious kingpin of the ‘One Million Boys’ cult group and his cohorts, who had been very elusive, were fished out from their criminal hideout at Ajah area of Lagos in a shootout that followed a well-coordinated operation carried out by the security operatives.
According to him: “During such violence, the group led by the suspect, caused unimaginable violence leading to arson, looting, destruction of valuable properties, maiming and senseless murder using various dangerous weapons with the miscreants inflicted pains and caused apprehension to innocent people in the affected areas. On September 15, 2016 around 2pm, two rival cult groups, one led by Ekugbemi from Born Photo and another group led by Alaba aka Ojoweliweli from Foko area clashed during a carnival held at Born Photo.”
“During the clash, the hoodlums attacked and robbed innocent victims of their valuable properties, shops were broken, property looted and two person, Kazeem Omole and Opaleye Farouk were killed. The police reacted and brought the situation under control. Some suspects were arrested in connection with the violence and were subsequently arraigned in court after being found culpable. Leaders of the rival cult groups and their hatch men escpaed afterwards and had since been very elusive,” he further stated.
He said, during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and series of other criminal activities carried out in various various parts of Ibadan and environs.
In an interview with ‘Ekugbemi,’ the notorious kingpin dispelled all the allegation, stressing that he was only from a masquerade family around Born Photo area of Ibadan.
“It was during a masquerade carnival that some drunk hoodlums entered into our family house at ‘Born Photo’ and start beating our mothers and elderly ones. That was why we faced the cult group and was trying to fight back but they claimed that we are also part of th cult group. I work in Lagos as a commercial bus driver, but only come to Ibadan ones in a while for the masquerade festivals because am from that family house. I have never killed anybody before” he said
Also, a suspected ritualist, Saheed Adeyemi (33) was arrested with human head along with one, Michael Edemba (60) around 5:30pm on February 2, 2017.
He said the arrest of the suspect was made possible following a tip off by members of the public.
CP Adegbuyi said: “Adeyemi walked into the ambush laid by the police while trying to remove the exhibit wrapped in a black polythene bag and hidden beside a shot at Abidogun junction, Omi-Adio. His arrest led to the second suspect while preparing to escape from the town when he know the first suspect has been nabbed. During interrogation, both suspects confessed to the crime.”
“The first suspect who is an herbalist residing at Awonsonso village, Apata, disclosed that he bought the human head for N15,000 from yet to be identified woman, now at large for the purpose of making money rituals for the second suspect who was passing through hard times as a result of financial difficulty.” he said.
