A resurgence of cult killings has claimed the lives of at least three individuals in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The latest incidents have raised concerns about the escalating violence in the area.
On Saturday, an unidentified victim was killed in the Olomoore area, while another victim, Fatai Kehinde, 48, was killed on Friday under the Kuto bridge.
Fatai was chased from his PoS shop in Kuto Market by suspected cultists before being killed.
The incidents follow the murder of a young barber at Isale Oja Kuto about four days ago. The killings are believed to be the work of rival cult groups, as the same vehicle was reportedly used in both the barber’s and Fatai’s murders.
Fatai, popularly known as Faithy, was buried on Saturday at approximately 2 pm.
“He is popularly called Faithy, he is the son of Baale of Kuto. He operates a POS shop and was about to close for the day when his killers drove to his shop.
“One of them was said to have pretended to be a customer that wanted to withdraw money, about three other guys who wore masks then came out and shot at their target.
“However, the shot was said not to have penetrated and so he tried to escape by taking to his heels but his assailants caught up with him under Kuto bridge and butchered him to death.
“It’s possible that the assailants who killed Faithy were the same gang who murdered the barber at Isale Oja Kuto about four days ago because we gathered that the assailants used the same jeep vehicle for their dastardly act,” a source said.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, has revealed that four people have been arrested in connection with the killing of the barber at Isale Oja Kuto on Wednesday.
Alamutu said on Sunday, “We have successfully arrested four people in connection with the killing of the barber by some suspected cultists a few days ago.
“We are also on the trail of others, and this is just to say that there is no hiding place for criminals in the state. We will apprehend everyone involved in the killings and make them answer for their misdeeds.”
The recent spate of killings has left residents of Abeokuta on edge, with many calling for increased security measures to curb the violence.
