Ayinde Kareem/

Police officers, in Ogun, have told how a man was shot by suspected members of a cult group who were mourning a dead member.

According to the state police spokesman, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, eight members of the group known as Black Axe aka Aiye have been arrested by the police in Ogun State.

Oyeyemi stated: “The cultists were arrested following a report lodged at Ogijo police station where a 16-year-old boy Onome Iduru was rushed to after he was shot in the stomach by the cultists who are in procession in honour of their departed colleague.

“The cultists after shooting the victim dispossessed him of a phone and also went ahead to unleash terror in the community.

“Upon the report, the DPO Ogijo Division, CSP Muhammed Suleiman Baba, led his men to the scene where eight members of the group namely: Olatunji Opeyemi, 26; Ayuba Oduola, 25; Sobowale Abiodun, 28; Sobowale Sunday, 25; Adelowo Olalekan, 32; Kareem Lanre, 21; Emmanuel Adebisi, 21 and Tobiloba Wasiu, 20, were arrested after serious encounter with the policemen.

“A banner designed with the group’s insignia to announce the death of their member was recovered from them while the injured victim was taken to Oladayo hospital for medical attention.”

Oyeyemi added, “The Commissioner of Police (CP), Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department for further investigation. The CP warned that any group or individual engaging in any activity capable of undermining the peace of the state will be dealt with in a very decisive manner. He appealed to parents to warn their wards not to be part of any unlawful society as the results might be catastrophic.”