53 TASUED Students Arrested

Students suspected to be cult members numbering 53 were yesterday arrested by the police at Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.

They have been transferred to the headquarters of the state Police Command at Eleweran, Abeokuta.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi who confirmed the arrest to P.M.NEWS this morning, also disclosed that the arrested students will soon be charged to court for alleged raping, cultism and similar offences.

The Ogun State PPRO said: “Some cultists kidnapped two ladies, they were raped, humiliated inside an uncompleted building. The suspected rapists numbered 30.

“One of the ladies summoned the courage to report the incident at Igbeba Police Division, Ijebu-Ode. The lady took policemen to their hideout.

“The suspects engaged the police in a fierce gun battle. One was shot in the leg and another killed. Six of the principal suspects were arrested.

“The students then went on the rampage. They set bonfire on the streets at Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode and the expressway. They attempted to burn the police station, the local government secretariat. They even went to the extent of trying to release some inmates at the Ijebu-Ode prison. We were able to arrest 53 students including female cultists. The new Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Nicholas Nkedem has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.”

Adejobi assured that the police will not relax in its efforts to wipe out cultism “while the new police boss has assured us of his support, and that any cultist arrested will be dealt with squarely.”

He blamed parents for not taking adequate care of their children, adding: “It is quite unfortunate that these elements exist in our institutions.

“You need to see the pictures of the ladies posted on Facebook. Many parents were cursing them for dehumanising womanhood. Those set of students should not be allowed to have access to the society or else Nigeria will be the worse for it.”

Meanwhile, the TASUED students’ union leader popularly known as Jacqul has directed students to stay at home following the closure of the school for one week. Policemen were still maintaining the peace at the campus this morning.

—Biodun Onafuye/Abeokuta