One Feared Dead As Soldiers, Cultists Clash In Ogun

Published

3 years ago

May 24, 2022

Editor

There was pandemonium in the Ibafo axis of Ogun State on Tuesday as soldiers and suspected cultists clashed.

The PUNCH gathered that one soldier was shot during the clash.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH.

When The PUNCH correspondent visited the area around 7 pm, the ever-busy Ibafo market and bus stop were deserted.

As a result of panic created over the clash, commercial vehicles also failed to offload passengers at the Ibafo bus stop.

The PUNCH gathered that the fight started when internet fraudsters clashed in the area over a yet-to-be-ascertained issue.

While one of the fraudsters invited cultists to defend him, the other was said to have called soldiers.

“The cultists first came and later, the soldiers arrived in a private car. The cultists stoned the soldiers and in the process, someone was shot,” an eyewitness said.

Another trader confirmed that one of the soldiers shot his colleague while trying to disperse the cultists.

“We all ran away when the soldiers’ patrol vehicle came. We thought they came to attack us,” the trader added.

When contacted on the telephone, Oyeyemi explained that calm had returned to the area.

He denied reports that Hausa traders stabbed a soldier to death in the area, noting that the shot soldier was immediately rushed to the hospital.

However, Oyeyemi could not ascertain if the shot soldier survived.

He said, “There was a crisis between Yahoo Boys. One went to bring cultists and the other was said to invite soldiers to defend him. A soldier was shot and rushed to the hospital.

“No one reported the case at the police station. The soldiers were said to initially come in their private car before a patrol team came and left afterwards.

“Police have visited the area and everywhere is calm as we speak.”

This is coming four days after two persons were killed in a crisis that erupted in the Mowe-Ofada area of Ogun State.

The PUNCH gathered that the violence in Ogun State started late last Thursday and snowballed to Friday morning.

He said the violence was caused by a clash between two rival groups.

Oyeyemi had said, “It is a fight between two rival groups. One of the cultists was killed yesterday (Thursday) but the situation has been brought under control.

“We have arrested a suspect in relation to the violence.”

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that many traders were scared to open their shops.

One of them, Titi, said, “A dead corpse was found around the Mowe area on Friday morning. We are being careful. Many of us are yet to open our shops. Everywhere is scanty.”

Another trader at Mowe said, “The boys are fighting. Police came to send them away but we have not started selling. Everywhere is scanty.

“They started the fight yesterday evening and continued this morning. Two people were killed at Adesan and Onibode junction.”

Edo Govt Arrests 20 Suspected Cultists, Demolishes Properties

Published

1 hour ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

Edo State Special Security Squad said it arrested twenty suspected cultists and demolished about four houses linked to them in an operation carried out in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The Special Security Squad made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Benin by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpehbolo.

According to the statement, the operation was led by the Chief Security Officer, Government House and the Governor’s Principal Security Officer (PSO).

Itua in the statement said that the operation followed the “brutal killing of a young man (a barber ) in South Ibie, an act tied to rival cult clashes.”

The statement reads, “About twenty suspects were arrested during the operations, and four houses were demolished, including a building located on Egbiadokhai Street, behind Otaru Primary School in Auchi owned by a wanted cultist known as Too-Believe.

“The building, which served as a regular meeting point for members of the Black Axe Confraternity, yielded alarming evidence. Two cut-to-size guns, two black beret caps associated with Black Axe cultists, and one sharp axe were found in the house.

“Too-Believe, who is currently on the run, is deeply embedded in cult operations in the region.

“Another house also demolished in Anoguele Street, Iyakpi, South-Ibie, belongs to a cultist named Kuwat, who was said to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity. When security agents arrived at his residence, he had already fled. Kuwat was named as the main mastermind of the recent killing of the barber.

“A property in the Ogodomiza Area in Ibie-Nafe belonging to another cult leader was also demolished. The house was earlier raided a day before, which led to the arrest of two young men, Momoh Austin (17) and Joseph Oyazojo (21). The suspects confessed they were brought to the area to engage in cybercrime activities commonly referred to as Yahoo Yahoo.”

Speaking after the demolition exercise, John Izegaegbe, Secretary of the State Security Squad, said: “The Governor gave 166 days of grace to all cultists to renounce, offering soft loans and skills training. That window was ignored. Now, desperate times call for desperate action. This demolition is a warning to all landlords and cultists, stay out of cultism or face the full wrath of the law.”

He emphasized that the house was directly linked to the murder in Auchi earlier in the week, with evidence including weapons and cult insignia found on-site.

Another member of the security squad, Eribo Emwanta, added: “We are advising parents and hotel owners to be vigilant. We are cleaning out these communities, and hotels harboring criminals are next.”

Metro

Customs Intercepts N5.1b Illicit Drugs From India, Canada At Lagos Airport

Published

16 hours ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, has intercepted illicit and controlled drugs worth N5.1 billion imported from India and Canada through the Lagos airport.

Customs Area Controller, Michael Awe, disclosed this yesterday while showcasing the seized items to journalists at the Command.

The seizures include 121 packs of Canadian cannabis valued at N1.4 billion; 294,000 tablets of 225mg Tramadol HCL worth N1.2 billion; Pregabalin 300mg worth N1.2 billion; Norflex 50mg valued at N800 million; and Sardalud 2mg worth N495 million.

Awe explained that on July 30, 2025, a consignment with AWB number 235-63882254/2 packages, previously placed under surveillance, was evacuated from the NAHCO import shed to the government warehouse. Upon joint examination, officers discovered that two packages containing duvets were used to conceal 121 packs of Canadian cannabis.

Similarly, on September 24, 2025, another consignment with AWB-071-58012706/6 packages was evacuated from the SAHCO import shed. It was found to contain 294,000 tablets of 225mg Tramadol HCL, valued at N1.2 billion.

Awe said additional seizures were made on September 17, 2025, when two consignments with AWB numbers 071-58231670 and 071-58234433 were intercepted and evacuated from the NAHCO import shed. They were found to contain Pregabalin, Sardalud, and Norflex tablets, all controlled medications imported without the required certification.

He raised concerns that the drugs were deceptively branded as 50mg Diclofenac Sodium, describing it as a dangerous practice that poses a serious risk to public health.

No suspect has been arrested in connection with the seizures. Awe said the items will be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

He reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for the smuggling of illicit drugs through the airport and urged the public to purchase medicines only from verified and reputable sources.

Assistant Director of NAFDAC, Nwude Kelechi, who was present during the briefing, pledged the agency’s support for a joint investigation and warned that there will be no hiding place for those involved in the illegal drug trade.

Metro

Woman Burns Sister-in-law’s Private Part Over Witchcraft Claims

Published

17 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in Magama Gumau, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, after a woman, identified as Suwaira Ibrahim, allegedly burnt the private part of her husband’s younger sister following accusations of witchcraft.

Cases of violence against children over witchcraft allegations remain a recurring problem in some parts of Nigeria, especially in rural communities where harmful traditional beliefs still hold sway.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about the rising number of minors tortured, abandoned, or killed over unfounded claims of sorcery.

In many cases, children are subjected to inhumane treatment such as burning, starvation, or beating, often with the complicity of family members or community leaders.

The Child Rights Act criminalises such practices and guarantees the protection of children against abuse, but enforcement has remained weak in many states.

It was gathered on Thursday that the victim, a seven-year-old (name withheld), was left in severe pain after she was brutalised by Suwaira.

Narrating the ordeal, an activist in the community, Kabiru Abdulkadir, told journalists that the incident started when Suwaira’s child claimed to have seen the victim among a group of witches.

According to him, the girl was taken to a man to confirm the allegation.

“The man told them that she is not a witch, but Suwaira disagreed with the confirmation. They returned home and placed a knife or spoon on fire, which they used to burn the child’s private part, believing that if she was truly a witch, she would not feel pain.

“It was her loud cries that attracted neighbours. When we got there, we insisted that the case be reported to the police,” Abdulkadir said.

In a video clip obtained by our correspondent, the child’s private parts and thighs were severely burnt. Abdulkadir added that the injuries left her unable to pass urine or stool properly, while the stench from the wound had made life unbearable for the household.

The victim was later rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, where she is currently receiving treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, said the case was reported at the Toro Divisional Headquarters before being referred to the State Command for proper investigation.

“We are aware of it. Initially, some people wanted to cover up the case and handle it at the community level, but we insisted it should be reported. The case has been referred to the State Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution. We will issue a detailed statement once we receive full reports,” Wakil said.

In 2019, a 10-year-old girl resident in Sandfield Estate, Satellite Town, Lagos, was rescued from her guardian, identified simply as Mrs Anaeme, who tortured her for allegedly being a witch.

The woman had reportedly subjected the little girl, Chidera, to serial assaults with marks of violence visible all over her body.

It was gathered that the torture took the worst dimension when Anaeme reportedly used a hot object to inflict injuries on the girl’s back.