A 300-Level Computer Science undergraduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Adebisi Oriade and his girlfriend, Julia Imaga, also a diploma student at the same institution, have been allegedly killed by two members of Aiye confraternity, Muritala Babatunde and Taiwo Razak.
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, disclosed this at the state police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Friday while parading no fewer than 25 suspects arrested for various offences ranging from armed robbery, cultism, to stealing and rape.
Parading the two major suspects among other suspected criminals, Iliyasu said one of the brothers of Adebisi, Oriade Adeola, had on June 3, 2018, reported to the police that he (Adebisi) had left home since May 28, 2018 with his girlfriend in his car, a Honda Crosstour with the number plate, FST 350 FA, but had yet to return.
He said on the receipt of the complaint, the men of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, in collaboration with the operatives of the state command embarked on technical intelligence.
He said this led to the arrest of the two suspects, from whom an iPhone X and two pairs of sneakers belonging to Adebisi were allegedly recovered. Iliyasu further said the suspects, on interrogation, confessed that they killed Adebisi and his girlfriend.
He said, “They said they lured the victims to a junction at Oru Ijebu, where they were forcefully taken to a nearby bus and they smashed their heads with planks and gun.”
He said the decomposing bodies of the deceased had been recovered and deposited in the mortuary at the State General Hospital, Ijebu Ode.
While speaking with journalists, Muritala Babatunde confirmed that he belonged to Aiye cult and that he and two other accomplices killed the victims.
He alleged that he and the late Adebisi were friends and they had a deal relating to an Internet fraud in which over N2m was involved.
He further claimed that Adebisi, despite many calls and entreaties, refused to give him his own share.
He said, “He refused to pick my calls and I stopped calling him. On May 28, 2018, I got two other men to join me and we abducted Adebisi and his girlfriend.
“He belonged to Alora cult. He and members of his group were threatening me, so we later killed him and his girlfriend by using planks.”
When asked why they killed Adebisi’s girlfriend, he replied, “it was just to cover our track.”
Adebisi’s father, Adedeji Oriade, however, denied the allegations made by Muritala, that his son was a cult member and an Internet fraudster.
He said, “My son was never a cultist or an Internet fraudster. The suspect, Babatunde Muritala, kept going back and forth. He was quoted to have said that my late son used to help him with money but suddenly he (my son) stopped and became arrogant and that was why he killed him.”
Julia’s mother, Mrs Olamma Ofor, who wept during the parade of the suspects, was too distraught to talk to journalists.
Other suspected ritual killers, armed robbers and rapists arrested in various locations in the state were equally paraded.
Iliyasu also disclosed that five police inspectors, seven sergeants and seven corporals serving in the state have been dismissed between July 2016 and June this year for various offences.
He added that two inspectors, five sergeants and two corporals were demoted in ranks while 11 others were seriously reprimanded within the same period.
He revealed that four were arraigned after dismissal.
Iliyasu said the disciplinary measures were taken against the affected officers to impress it further in the consciousness of people that “no erring policeman will ever go unpunished.”
