Police arrest Ilaro poly SUG president during ‘cult initiation’

The police in Ogun on Sunday arrested Adegboye Olatunji, student union government (SUG) president of the Federal Polytechnic in Ilaro, alongside Olarewaju Taiwo during alleged “cult initiation”.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, police spokesman in the state, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, said both students were arrested in a nearby bush at Gbogidi area of Ilaro.

Oyeyemi said their arrest followed a tip off from members of the public, adding that they were clad in full regalia of the dreaded black axe cult group before they were caught.

“The duo was arrested following information received by the police at the Ilaro Division from members of the public that some group of people suspected to be cultists were sighted in a bush at Gbogidi area of Ilaro where they were trying to initiate new members into their dreaded group,” he said.

“On receiving the information, the DPO Ilaro Division, CSP Olayemi Jacob, mobilised his patrol team and swiftly moved to the scene where the two suspects were arrested with the assistance of members of the public while others escaped through the bush.

“The two arrested cultists who are in full regalia of the dreaded black axe cult group have been taken to custody at the Ilaro Divisional Headquarters, where they are being currently interrogated.”

He noted that Kenneth Ebrimson, the state commissioner of police, has ordered that the arrested students be transferred to the anti-cultists unit of the criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation.

Their arrest was followed by immediate suspension of the SUG president by management of the institution.

Sola Abiala, the polytechnic’s deputy registrar, public relations, in a statement on Monday, noted Adegboye’s suspension was in line with the institution’s zero tolerance for cultism.

“The suspension of Adegboye is in line with the Act establishing the Polytechnic and the provision of the Students Handbook coupled with the Polytechnic’s zero tolerance to cultism, pending his appearance before the Students Disciplinary Committee to establish his culpability or otherwise,” the statement read.

“The Management, therefore, uses this medium to re-emphasise its zero tolerance for cultism and other misdemeanours.”