Date: 2017-04-14

Peace took flight from Pakata, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Monday, when suspected cultists threw caution to the winds and operated unhindered in what seemed like a scene from an action packed thriller.

The macabre drama that ensued on the fateful day will linger in the minds of eyewitnesses and residents of the area for a long time.

According to accounts, the gunmen had stormed the area in commando like manner in search of their targets, who are reportedly members of a rival confraternity. Upon sighting their victims, the suspected cultists were said to have began shooting sporadically into the air to scare people away from the scene. Eyewitnesses revealed that thereafter, the armed men encountered their victims in a warlike battle.

The jaw dropping scenario reportedly saw one of the victims deflecting bullets by brushing it off as it hit his body. Narrating the incident, a resident who craved anonymity said, "We were shocked when the suspected cultists stormed this area brazenly wielding guns in broad daylight light.

"They shot into the air to scare people and everyone scampered for safety. They met their targets at a place near the Pakata roundabout, where they had gone for local manicure with a Hausa man. "What was surprising was that as they shot at their target, one of them was brushing off the bullets as if he was acting a movie. "He even attempted to disappear from the scene, by hitting his own palm on the ground, but it seemed his assailants were aware of the diabolic trick and each time he did that, they also imitated the action.

"They pursued the guy for sometime before he was able to escape from the scene. Unfortunately, the other guy, identified as Taiye Alore, who obviously did not fortify himself with charms fell by the gun of the assailants. There was pandemonium in the area for about 20minutes while the incident lasted."

...how alleged cultist leader, Abbey lived, died

More facts have emerged on how suspected cultists leader in Ilorin, Kwara State, Monsuru Aremu widely known as Abbey lived his life before being murdered in cold blood last Thursday.

The HND 2 student of Kwara State Polytechnic, said to be a cultist kingpin was hacked to death by suspected members of a rival confraternity at Ikokoro, Niger road in Ilorin.

He was said to have gone to the area to attend a naming ceremony in company of another cult member when the incident happened. It was gathered that the deceased also known as Adidas was lured to the scene of the incident by a top notch of his confraternity.

According to a source, "The rival cult group had held the kingpin hostage and struck a bargain with him that if he was able to produce Adidas, his life would be spared, which made him to invite Abbey to the area, where he was eventually killed.

However, another account had it that Adidas, upon getting winds of the plan by the rival confraternity group to murder the top notch, revealed the secret to the affected cultist. The cultist leader was said to have escaped, which made the assailants to go for Adidas, who they believed had snitched on them.

The suspected cultist, who hailed from Oja-Iya area but resides at Olunlade in the state capital could be said to be a cat with nine lives as previous attempts to truncate his life were said to have failed. A source recalled an incident when gunmen had attacked Adidas at his residence, engaged him in a fierce gun battle but he escaped unscathed.

"Everyone panicked when we heard gunshots at about 4pm on a fateful day, when an attempt was made on his life. He showed great bravery as he countered them. After his assailants had left the area, Abbey was seen brazenly wielding gun around in broad daylight.

"There had been other attempts by rival cult members to murder him and each time he escaped. Unfortunately, luck ran out on him this time," the source added. Adidas, an alleged notorious cultist was on January 4, this year, arrested and subsequently paraded by the officers of the state Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for crime.

He alongside one Musa Yusuf and Lawal Babatunde were arrested for being in possession of pistol, rounds of ammunition, hard drugs, criminal charms among other dangerous items.

It was learnt that Adidas and his accomplice were let off the hook and walk freely within the metropolis after about five days in detention. Some of residents of Oja-Iya who spoke to this medium, described the deceased as a gentle and easy going young man.

"It was hard to believe initially that Abbey is a cultist because he was easy going and gentle. He was known to mediate in conflicts and ensure peace among youths in the area," a source had said. This medium gathered that the suspected cultist was a devout Muslim who observed his prayers regularly.

The attack on Abbey had marked beginning of renewed cult clashes in Ilorin. Since his death there have been records of eight deaths of suspected cultists and arrest of six in connection with the crime.

In a similar development, the family of a teacher of the Government Secondary School, Afon, Olatunde Ahmed Ejalonibu, who was murdered while making calls along Osere road last Thursday has recounted how the sibling passed away. The brother of the deceased, Olayinka Ejalonibu said Olatunde was never a member of any secret cult.

He described the departed as easy going and God-fearing man who was dedicated to his religion.

"Until recently, my brother do call me every day but for the past one week before he was murdered by suspected cultists, he never did. "I called him on Monday to hear from him and he told me he was busy at work due to ongoing NECO and WAEC registration.

"On Thursday, he called me that he is around and that he was even hungry. I informed my wife to make food for us. Since I discovered that it will take more time. I later told him I will join him at home but he called me to meet him at a canteen at the junction.

"I was about to change my cloth when I received a call from a lady in our community that my brother had been murdered in cold blood," Olayinka disclosed. He added that his brother known as Itu may have been murdered by those he was allegedly owing about N100,000 meant for exam registration. According to him, his brother had earlier paid some of those he owed exam fees.

"Sometime in 2015, I was with my brother in his car when a guy and came tried to attack him demanding to be paid his exam fees and Olatunde asked him to be patient with him that he will try to register him for same exam the following year.

"Also in 2013, a food vendor called me and said about six guys came looking for my brother looking suspicious but I told her not worry about them that they could be some of the candidates that registered in his school."

It was gathered that the deceased is a Level 10 officer who received his promotion letter in March. He had worked with the school for 10 years before his death.