The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed a media report that there was a political clash in the state on Sunday.
Although admitting there was a clash, the Police said in a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Monday, that the violent clash occurring between two rival cult groups was wrong to have been ascribed to politics.
The statement said: “The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to news circulating online ascribing the violent clash that occurred yesterday 10th of March 2019 to Politics.
“The Command therefore wish to set the record straight that the clash is between two rival cult groups which has nothing to do with the political development in the State.
“The crisis was as a result of superiority battle between members of the Eiye and Aye cult groups within Ijebu-Ode and its environ which led to the death of three members of the cult groups.
“As soon as the Command got wind of the clash, the Commissioner of Police Ogun State Police Command Cp Ahmed Iliyasu directed and deployed tactical Units of PMF, Anti-Kidnapping/cultist Unit and the SARS to move to the scene in order to assist the Area Commander Ijebu-Ode and other conventional Police who are already on ground to bring the situation under control.
“The combine efforts of the Special and tactical Units and Area Commander led to arrest of 22 suspects who are directly linked to the crisis and normalcy has since returned to the town.
“Recovered from those arrested are *Parcels of weed* suspected to be *Indian hemp* and expended cartridges, and other incriminating items.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has directed the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, with Anti Kidnapping and Cultist Unit to conduct tactical and forensic investigation into the case with the view of bringing to justice those who have one link or the other to the crisis.
“The Cp equally warned that any act that is capable of jeopardizing the prevalent existing peace being enjoyed by good people of the State will b viewed with all seriousness.
“He further warned that whosoever is indicted to have played any role in the crisis will be decisively dealt with within the ambit of the extant law, no matter the status of such person because the law is no respecter of anybody.”
