By Olajide Idowu
Osogbo – The Police Command in Osun on Wednesday said it had arrested two suspected members of a cult/ritualist gang in Osogbo, which specialised in defrauding the public posing as herbalists.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeoye Fimihan, while presenting the suspects to newsmen in Osogbo, said they were arrested on Oct. 6 upon credible intelligence.
Adeoye said police operatives were informed that some suspected cult members/ritualists named “Zone Two”, operating around Jamodo junction, Ifon-Osun, usually assembled at the junction where they openly brandished guns and cutlasses.
He said after the report, police crack and investigative teams were deployed to flush out the gang from their criminal hideout and that one Jimoh Sherif, 20, was arrested during the police operation.
Fimihan also stated that one Yusuf Taofeek, 21, was also arrested after he was found hiding, armed with a cutlass, in the ceiling of the house of one Sehidu Aliu aka Alaga, the supposed zone two gang leader.
“The syndicate specialises in duping and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public under the pretence of being herbalists who can help them to prepare money rituals.
“Police investigation, however, led to the discovery of their den/shrine at Isangbe village in Ifon-osun, where different fetish objects and idols were discovered.
“One of the moveable idols was, however, removed from the den to be tendered as exhibit.
“Other items recovered from the suspects include; an unregistered Toyota Camry saloon car and two Bajaj boxer motorcycles,” he said.
He said fifteen other members of the syndicate had fled, and that police Investigation had begun.
“We thank members of the public for their cooperation and we appeal that they continue to give us useful information that could help in making Osun a crime-free state,” the commissioner said. (NAN)
