By: Our Reporter
In a bid to tackle criminal activities in the area, Seven suspected cultists who have been terrorizing unrest and raping in Ilaje riverine area of Ondo State have been arrested by the State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps.
The suspects were alleged to have injured some security agents to escape arrest before Amotekun officers eventually apprehended them.
Parading the suspects at the Corps Headquarters in Akure, the State Corps Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye said trouble started when the suspected notorious cultists allegedly robbed, raped and maligned a lady in Igbokoda, and reported them to the security agency.
Akogun Adeleye noted that Amotekun corps decided to parade the suspects to sensitize the public of the nefarious activities of cultists especially in Ilaje Local Government and to create an awareness that thuggery in the name of whatever youth association will not be tolerated in Ondo State.
The Commander further hinted, that thorough search was carried out at the residence of the main suspect, Moshood Kazeem, and the corps was able to retrieve the phone that was stolen from their victim.
Akogun Adeleye said, “On April 7, a lady highlighted from a bus and was subsequently robbed, raped and maligned in Igbokoda.
“She came same day to the office of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps in Igbokoda and reported and by the time our men got to the scene, they had all ran away.
“We placed them on surveillance and the lady here with us today also told us that she could recognize some of them that actually attacked her.
“Precisely yesterday, she came to the office to report that she had seen one of them and she would want them apprehended.
“During the attack, her cell phone and money were stolen, she was raped and beaten mercilessly and her dress was torn.
“We swung into action and went to a joint that is noted for such activities in Igbokoda. Just immediately, our men came out and were attacked to the extent that four of our officers were tied, maligned, inflicted machete cuts on them, shot them severally and our men responded and we were able to apprehend two of the suspects who led us to the houses of seven others out of which we were equally able to arrest additional seven of them.
Akogun Adeleye further hinted, that thorough search was carried out at the residence of the main suspect, Moshood Kazeem, and we were able to retrieve the phone that was stolen from the lady and he confessed that they had shared the money.
“In the course of searching his house, other cult members came and started attacking members of the public, shooting sporadically.
“We were however, able to recover one locally made pistol with live ammunition in it, cutlasses, charms and a number of other dangerous weapons were also found with them.
“We want to correct the negative impression, that Amotekun went to attack youths. We are friendly with youths within the community. Infact they always support us, the community is the strength of Amotekun and therefore, we don’t have issues with them.
“But those we have issues with, are cultists creating nefarious activities around Igbokoda and luckily we have been able to arrest the leader of the bad gang”, he said.
Narrating her ordeal, the 23 years old victim said; I’m here in Ondo State for burial so I used the opportunity to go and meet my mother at Ayetoro to collect my exam fees.
“After then, on Sunday, April 7, I returned to Igbokoda and on my way home, I dropped by my junction at Olodo where I saw those guys who attacked me.
“One of them brought out gun, he said I should stand, if I run or do anyhow I will be shot at, so I begged them. From there they took me to one uncompleted building. The guy there is the only one I recognized because he was the one that raped me. He collected my money, phone and raped me. He was the only one that raped me”, she said amidst tears.
Also, in an interview, the suspect, Kazeem Moshood, said; I’m from Ilaje Local Government. From olodo junction, we saw the girl and we raped her. I raped her and collected her phone.
“The gun I used to rob her belongs to a ‘Soldier boy’. He is not here. I collected the gun from him to carry out the dastardly act”, he confessed.
The Amotekun Commander, however, assured that before the end of the week, the suspects paraded today in addition to those that will join them would be taken to a court of competent jurisdiction to handle their cases and like you have requested, we will let the public know that.
