3 die, 4 wounded as police swoop on suspected cultists in Ilorin

THREE people reportedly died, four critically injured, while 18 others were arrested when men of the Kwara State police command, in conjunction with men of vigilance group, swooped on suspected members of a cult group, Aiye confraternity, during initiation in Ilorin, at the weekend. Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, on Sunday, the state Police Public Relations officer (PPRO), Femi Fabode, said the command acted on information gathered on Saturday night that robbers were hiding in a bush behind NASFAT village, on Airport Road, Ilorin. “This prompted various vigilance group in the communities around the place to mount sentry on all roads that lead to the bush and waited until early hours of this morning (Sunday) when the Aiye conferternity completed their initiation. “Unnoticed of the moves, they (cultists) ran into the ambush laid by the various vigilance group and the police, while the people, who mistook them for robbers, opened fire on them,” he said. The PPRO, who said three of the suspected cult members were fell in the ensued gun exchange, added that they were almost burnt to ashes before the men of the command got to the scene. The PPRO also said four of the suspected cult members were critically injured, while 18 of them were arrested and being interrogated by men of the state Crime Investigation Department (CID). He also said some of the suspected cultists came from Lagos, Osun, Ibadan and Oro, adding that more of them would be arrested “because they ran in directions when they learnt that their men had been arrested by the police.” He said investigation was still ongoing, adding that those who died had been taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital mortuary, while the injured were receiving treatment in the hospital.