Some suspected cult members have allegedly stabbed a barber, Femi Adeshina, to death on Isale Oja Road in the Kuta area of Ogun State.
The Ogun State Police Command exclusively informed our correspondent on Tuesday that the suspects, including Prince Emmanuel, Nafiu Sadiq, Michael Joseph, and Adebowale Ezekiel, believed to have participated in the crime, were arrested shortly after the crime was committed.
It was gathered that the incident occurred around 8:45 PM on Monday.
According to an eyewitness who requested anonymity due to fear of victimisation, the victim was working in his shop when approximately eight suspects arrived in the area on motorcycles.
While the residents were wondering what was happening, our correspondent learnt that a few of the suspects drew their guns and began shooting sporadically into the air.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the ricocheting gunshots threw residents in nearby areas into a frenzy, causing confusion and sending them scampering for safety.
The victim, while attempting to flee for safety, was reportedly pursued by the suspected cult members and stabbed multiple times in the neck and head before they fled the scene.
“He was attending to his customers when we suddenly heard multiple gunshots. Three boys started shooting to scare people away,” the eyewitness said.
Our correspondent learnt that the barber was confirmed dead by the doctor who attended to his body at the state hospital in Ìjàyè.
The eyewitness further explained to our correspondent that the police from the Ibara Division arrived at the scene shortly after the suspects had fled.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent via WhatsApp on Tuesday, the state police command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said four suspects involved in the crime were arrested shortly after the incident.
“When the police arrived at the scene, the suspects had already fled. However, they were able to gather intelligence indicating that the suspects had moved to the Maria Guest Inn in Amolaso.
“Four suspects involved in the crime were apprehended at the Guest Inn, and efforts are ongoing to identify other members of the group.”
The command spokesperson further praised the officers involved in the suspects’ arrest, warning that under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, anyone involved in criminal activity in the state would be brought to justice.
Monday’s arrest occurred just days after the command apprehended two suspected members of the Aiye Confraternity for allegedly robbing a hotel in the Ijoko community of the Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area.
The suspects reportedly included Adisa Abiodun and Rasheed Makinde, who were also accused of raping a 25-year-old woman who worked at the hotel during the robbery.