Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have reportedly arrested the President of the Students’ Union Government of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Adegboye Olatunji, during cult initiation.
During the arrest which occurred on Sunday, one Olarewaju Taiwo was also apprehended.
The development was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Monday.
Oyeyemi said the suspects were caught in the bush in full regalia of the dreaded Black Axe cult group following information received by the police.
“The duo were 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.
“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,” the statement said.
The spokesman added that the Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the anti-cultist section of the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for a discreet investigation.
Meanwhile, the management of the Polytechnic has suspended Adegboye, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Sola Abiola.
Abiola said the suspension “is consequent upon the foiling of the meeting of some cult groups from the neighbouring community, by the security architecture and network of the Polytechnic, the Local Vigilante Group in conjunction with Nigerian Police Force and the Directorate of State Security.
“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 Management, therefore, uses this medium to re-emphasise its zero tolerance for cultism and other misdemeanours.”