‘Cultists shoot three dead in Ondo’ as police, Amotekun trail killers

At least three people were reported dead in an attack by gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group in Owo LGA of Ondo.

According to residents, the attackers struck on Tuesday night and went away with the bodies of the three victims.

Adako Taye, secretary of the LGA, confirmed the incident, noting that cult-related attacks were becoming recurring and rampant in the community.

“It is so unfortunate that we are seeing this killing after the killing of 41 people last year by gunmen at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo,” Taye told TheCable.

“It is true; it was a cult-related attack and in the past few days. It resumed again and reports of casualties were recorded two nights ago. Somebody was also shot and killed and I’m about to visit the parents of the young man. I am not aware if the corpse was taken away.”

Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the spokesperson of the police in Ondo, said the details of the incident were not available at the time of filing this report. 

She told TheCable that the police would get to the root of the matter, adding that an “anti-cultism team of the police has been deployed to the area.”

“The police are currently on patrol within Owo. I have spoken with the area commander and the DPO in the area, but not one of the residents is ready to report, or even assist with information,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.

“No evidence of the bodies that were shot but the police will investigate the situation to ensure that every knotty detail of the incident is brought to light.”

Adetunji Adeleye, the state commander of the Western security network agency codenamed Amotekun, said operatives of the outfit were on the trail of the attackers.

“The suspects will be arrested, and efforts are already in top gear by our security personnel to comb the area,” Adeleye said.