cultists mark anniversary

 

Residents of Fakale, Igode and Emuren communities, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State have started fleeing their homes.

It was learnt that the residents were afraid over the reports that suspected cult members of the Eiye Confraternity planned to unleash mayhem during their anniversary on Monday (today).

It was gathered that some dwellers of Odo Kekere, Odo Nla and Itapara within the LGA had also vacated their homes, saying the cultists had vowed to cause bloodbath to mark the August 8 anniversary.

Our correspondent had reported that some communities in Ogun State were under siege on July 7^th, when some suspected Aye Confraternity members killed 11 persons, while marking the 7/7 anniversary.

It was also reported that some other cult members stormed the Ogijo area last Wednesday and killed four residents.

The head of Igode community, Chief Rafiu Idisu, told our correspondent on Sunday that no fewer than 70 residents had packed out for fear of being attacked in the coming August 8^th celebration, which the cultists tagged, ‘8/8.’

Idisu said he had drawn the attention of the Chairman, Sagamu LGA, Mr. Lola Awoniyi, to the tension in the community and urged the police to nip the pending attack in the bud.

He said, “For the past three days now, there has been information across the community and its environs that Eiye cult members will attack people to mark their anniversary on Monday.

“People have started leaving ssince then, especially those who live on new sites. About 70 residents have fled and residents in other communities such as Fakale, Itapara and Odo Kekere, are doing same.

“I have informed the council chairman and he promised to do something about it. We want the police to position patrol vehicles around the communities to protect us because we have no place to run to.

 We don’t want a repeat of what happened on July 7^th 2016.”

The Secretary, Oodua People’s Congress, Fakale, Idris Lawal, said his members were aware of the development and had mounted surveillance at strategic points in the community to foil any attack.

“We are fully prepared for them.

 We have assured our people to be calm, but those who are afraid have left. Policemen are also on patrol,” he added.

The council chairman, Awoniyi, said security agencies had been informed to forestall any breach of the peace in the areas.

He said, “We have alerted all the necessary security agencies to the threat. 

As the chief security officer of the council, necessary steps have been taken to forestall any attack. So, security wise, the communities are safe.”

The acting Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, ASP Ambibola Oyeyemi, said policemen had been deployed in different parts of the state to check cult activities.

He said, “The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Iliyasu, has made it clear that whoever parades himself as a cultist will be treated like an armed robber, kidnapper or murderer. The CP has ordered all the Divisional Police Officers to be on their toes.

“Our Special Intelligence Bureau officers are at various parts of the state to nip in the bud any mob attack. People should not fear harassment from anywhere.

 They should go about their business in a normal way; we are on top of the situation. Nothing is going to happen in those communities because policemen are on the ground.”