Cultist attack community head as residents flee

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

All hell let loose over the weekend when suspected cult boys numbering about ten stormed the house of a community head, Chief Moruf Alani Olalekan Adebayo, Baale (Community Head) of Orile Tafin in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital beating him blue and black.

The incident, which occurred at No. 19, Kufile street, Ilupeju, Oke Yidi, Lantoro, Abeokuta, the resident of the Community Head, made many residents to flee for safety of their lives.

Our correspondent also gathered that five different cars parked in the house were also vandalised while seven peoples were seriously injured during the mayhem, which according to eyewitness account did not lasted for ten minutes.

The affected vehicles are; XE 766 ABK , WDE 497 XA, Datsun, AAB 929 AA Mitsubishi, EV 344 SMK Toyota Corolla, and LSD 404 CD Nissan Primera blue colour and others.

A resident of the community, who does not want his name in print revealed that the suspected cultists had acted on a planned arrangement by some mischief makers with a plan to disrupt an event earlier slated for Saturday.

One of the residents, Mrs Anike Adenekan told our correspondent that the suspected cult boys had been terrorising the community, claiming that no one can arrest them.

“We cannot send our children out because these boys will waylaid them. They have attempted to rape many grown up girls in the community. Whenever our children are out, they attack them and many valuables have been stolen from them. Money, phones and other valuable goods have been collected by the gang, now they have come to destroy vehicles and cause unrest in the community. Only God saved our Baale, they would have killed him. We are appealing to security operatives to come to our aid,” Adenekan stated.

Speaking with our correspondent, the embattled community head, Chief Adebayo expressed worry over the attack, noting that, he does not know what his offences are, stating that, he has no deal with anybody that would warrant been chased around by cultists.

Adebayo disclosed that the only thing he could remember was that he is being punished for been an ardent supporter of the incumbent governor. “The only offence I can think of is that I had disagreed with His Royal Highness Oba (Dr) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland over his non-readiness to pronounce my up grading to Obaship position when some Baale, who were not even up to me were announced last February.

“And my offence for this is because I am a true supporter of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun state. He is a progressive and every right thinking citizen of this state will appreciate the good work this man has been doing in the last three and half years and will pray for his continuity come 2015. That, I think has been my offense and for enquiring why I was not upgraded,” he said.

The Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland is presently in the USA for his annual break and a source in the palace, who pleaded anonymity informed our correspondent that the community head was just crying foul as the monarch has no hands in whatever is happening to him, adding that, “Alake will never wish any of his subjects bad and how on earth would he send cultist to beat up someone. That is a big embarrassment to Alake himself and the traditional institution,” the palace source stated.

PM News reliably gathered early Tuesday that some of the boys have been arrested and are currently cooling their heels at the police station.

“I want to confirm to you that some of the boys alleged to have been terrorising Kufile street and vandalised many vehicles there have been arrested. Their gang leader, who identified himself as Ganiyu and another as Kola who are presently at the Adatan Police station and they are under interrogation and they will assist in getting their accomplices and their master,” the police source confirmed via telephone.

As at the time of filing this report, most of the residents are yet to return to their homes, though, normalcy has returned to the area while those that have returned were seen going about their normal businesses with some plain cloth policemen sighted around the area.