NEWS
How we killed several rivals for Rituals – Ogun cult leader confesses
Suspected cult leaders in Ogun state have narrated how they butchered their rivals to death and cut off their hands for rituals to fortify them against attacks and from being arrested by security agencies.
The were arrested by police from the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by Olatunji Disu, a deputy commissioner of Police.
The arrested cult leaders were identified as Saeed Taiwo, Isaiah Babatunde and Oyede Sulaimon.
The three cult members confessed to being leaders of the Aiye Confraternity, terrorising Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
They were reportedly responsible for some of the killings of suspected cult members around Ita Oshin and neighbouring communities in the Ogun ancient town.
According to a police source at the IRT, the police are searching for another infamous gang member known only as Ben. Ben is believed to have disappeared into thin air while carrying the gang’s AK-47 rifle
Saheed Taiwo, in his confession told the police that his gang not only killed rival cult members but also cut their hands and use for rituals to fortify themselves against attack from their rival and against arrest from the police .
In his words: “my name is Saheed Taiwo AKA Akerele. I am from Abeokuta, I am 27 years old. My father is from the Ita Oshin area of Abeokuta. I attended Julys Nursery and Primary School, Ita Oshin, Abeokuta and Anglican High School Ibara, also in Abeokuta. I dropped out of school in SS 2 in 2019.”
“I was arrested for cultism. I am a member of the Black Axe Confraternity popularly known as Aiye. I was initiated into the group in 2018 by Easy. He was the leader and the Number 1 then.
“On my own, I cannot say that I have killed any number of people. We operate as a group and we have killed many people. I can’t even say the number of people that we have killed. We were always instructed by our leaders in the group to go and kill.
“Anytime we killed any rival member, we used to cut off their hands. Other members of my killer group are, Ben, Dreams others. We use the severed hands for ritual.”
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Taiwo further confessed that “We have assorted arms and ammunitions. There is hardly any arm that you cannot find with our group. We have single and double barrel guns, AK 47 and many more. I was using a double barrel gun for operation. I used to keep my gun with Rasqie. He escaped on the day I was arrested by the police.
On how the gang killed a rival cult member in the Lafenwa area of Abeokuta recently, Taiwo said “It was a reprisal attack. There was an issue between our boys and the Eiye cult group. The Eiye cult group killed a member of our group during the clash. Our leaders ( Dre and others ) mandated us to go and see what was happening there. When we got there, we identified one of them.
“Later we traced the identified Eiye member, who was one of those, who killed our member to Lafenwa and killed him. We also cut off one of his hands with our axe. We don’t call it axe in our group. We call it ‘ seven’ We took the hands to the twins. We didn’t collect any money from them.”
The cult leader also revealed that “Our gang was responsible for the killing of a leader of a rival cult group in the Ita Oluwo area of Abeokuta, some months ago . The guy’s name was Tommy. I was not one of the people that went for the operation but Ben, Dre ( Dare), Killer, Idris Aloma, who just bought a Pump Action Gun.
“Six of them went for the operation on a motorbike. What they told me was that they macheted him to death and even shot him. He was one of the leaders of the Eiye group. All the cult killings are reprisal attacks.”
Muyiwa Adejobi, the force’s public relations officer, confirmed the arrest of the cult members and gave the assurance that additional cult leaders and members who were involved for the killings in Ogun State will also be apprehended and brought to face the full weight of the law.
In line with the recommendations of the Osun State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Ademola Adeleke has extended mercy to 53 convicts serving various terms within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
According to Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, this was contained in a letter of commutation dated December 24th, 2024 and which has since been received and acknowledged by the relevant prison authorities read as follows:
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“WHEREAS: the inmates whose names are set out in the schedule to this order have been convicted to various terms of imprisonment to wit.
(i) Simple offences and have served substantial portions of the sentences,
(ii) Convicts sentenced to death” (having spent a minimum of 10 years in custody.)
“AND WHEREAS: following the recommendation made to me by the state advisory council on the prerogative of mercy that I should exercise my power in relation to the said inmates in order to mark the 2024 Christmas celebration.
“AND WHEREAS: in the case of the 30 (thirty) inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences in whole.
“AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to 12 (Twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.
“4 (Four) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright pardon. AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to commute the sentences as follows;
“1 (One) convict has his sentence commuted from death to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment.
“6 (Six) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright release.
“Now know ye therefore that, I Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria, in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto the said inmates.
“My will and pleasure thereof, is that you commute the death, life and years of imprisonment as indicated herewith in the schedule”
Those in the schedule are as follows:
CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON (SIMPLE OFFENCES)
- OLABOMIJI NURUDEEN
- MUSTAPHA ISAH
- OLALEKAN ABDULLAHI
- AYOMIDE OLOJEDE
- AKEEM RAPHAEL
- ADEYEMI ABIODUN
- OLADIPUPO SEGUN
- OMISAKIN SUNDAY
- ADEMOLA ADIO
- TUNDE OLAPADE
- LATE CHIEF WOLE OLA RUFUS OJO
- OMOLOYE OLAJIDE OLAYEMI
CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE (SIMPLE OFFENCES)
- OLUBO SUNDAY
- ISAH UMAR BIODUN
- FAWAS KAREEM
- OMIRIN TEMITAYO
- OLARENWAJU AYOMIDE
- DARE SUNDAY
- OLADAPO TUNDE
- GANIYU SAHEED
- ADEWUMI SODIQ
- ADEBAYO ADEOYE KEHINDE
- LASIS KAZEEM
- DAUDA OJO (59 YEARS)
- ISMAILA RAJI
- OSENI MICHEAL
- AJAYI KOREDE
- ABIONA NURUDEEN
- OSHI SAMUEL
- SHEU YUSUF OLATUNJI
- OJO AANU
- MUSTAPHA KEHINDE
- LASIS ABEEB
- ALEXANDRA IORLAHA
- OJO TAIWO
- AZEEZ MUJEEB
- AKINYEMI DAVID
- ADEOSUN ADEKUNLE
- OLAOBAJU SAMUEL
- ADURA ADEFEMI
- PAUL BASIL
- KUNLE DAVID
CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON FOR GOOD CONDUCT (CAPITAL OFFENCES) – 4 (FOUR)
- SUNDAY MORAKINYO
- SEGUN OLOWOOKERE
- TUNDE OLAPADE
- DEMOLA ODEYEMI
CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE ON HEALTH GROUND, (CAPITAL OFFENCES) –
1 OLUWAFEMI FAGBEMI
2 BEWAJI SUNDAY
- AMEHIN GEORGE
- AYOMIDE ARULOGUN
- TAIWO OLUWATOBI STEPHEN
- ABUBAKAR ABDULAZEEZ
CONVICT RECOMMENDED TO BE COMMUTED FROM DEATH TO 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT HAVING SPENT AT LEAST 10 YEARS IN CUSTODY
- OJEKUNLE TIMOTHY
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has approved a new policy allowing visa-free entry to Ghana for all African nationals, fulfilling a promise he made earlier this year.
The initiative is expected to be implemented before the end of his term on January 6, 2025.
With this move, Ghana will join Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin as one of the few African nations offering unrestricted visa-free access to all African passport holders.
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The policy is seen as a significant step toward promoting free movement across the continent, enhancing trade, and deepening economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Akufo-Addo announced the policy during his keynote address at the 2024 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) held in Accra.
Speaking under the theme “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value, and Trade,” he highlighted the challenges Africans face when traveling within the continent.
“Many of you had to acquire a visa to attend this event,” he said, emphasizing the barriers to intra-African mobility.
He described the visa-free policy as a solution to these challenges and a critical step toward achieving the goals of the AfCFTA.
“The free movement of people is essential for stimulating intra-African trade and fostering collaboration across borders,” Akufo-Addo added, noting that the policy aligns with Ghana’s broader vision of promoting economic growth through integration.
The visa-free initiative is expected to enhance Ghana’s standing in the region, making it easier for African nationals to travel, trade, and collaborate.
By eliminating visa requirements, Ghana aims to position itself as a leader in continental integration, creating opportunities for deeper economic ties with other African nations.
The policy also underscores Ghana’s commitment to the AfCFTA, which seeks to establish a unified market for goods and services across Africa.
Officials believe this move will attract businesses and encourage cross-border trade, ultimately boosting the continent’s economy.
The Ghanaian government has begun taking steps to implement the policy, with full rollout expected before the end of Akufo-Addo’s presidency.
Officials are updating immigration procedures to accommodate the new framework and ensure a smooth transition.
President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the initiative during his address.
“We are taking concrete steps to ensure that this policy becomes a reality this year,” he stated, signaling that the groundwork for implementation is already underway.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians of the federal government’s dedication to national security, economic transformation, and welfare of the citizens.
This was detailed in a Christmas message on Wednesday afternoon in Abuja under the signature of the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.
According to the Vice President, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains unwavering in its focus on these critical areas, as the country looks forward to the dawn of a new year.
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He said, “In these times of economic transformation, I want to assure you that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration remains steadfast in its commitment to improving the lives of all Nigerians.”
Vice President Shettima particularly urged the citizens to imbibe the virtues of national unity during the yuletide season.
“Nigeria’s diversity remains our greatest strength. Let us avail ourselves of the time provided by the holiday season to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood that unite us across all faiths and regions,” he said.
Senator Shettima assured Nigerians of the continued vigilance of the nation’s security forces, noting that “our brave security personnel will continue to work round the clock during this festive period to keep us safe.”
He said enhanced security measures have been put in place to protect the citizens during the holiday period.
“The relevant agencies have been mobilized to ensure your safety and comfort on all major routes,” he stated, urging travelers to remain vigilant.
VP Shettima expressed optimism about the nation’s trajectory in the coming year, saying, “I am filled with hope and optimism about Nigeria’s future. Together, we will build a more prosperous and united nation.
“To our young people, you are the backbone of our nation. The Renewed Hope administration is implementing various initiatives to create opportunities for you to thrive and contribute to Nigeria’s development,” he added.
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