* Claims he was given 30 rifles during 2023 elections
The police in Osun State have arrested a 32-year-old notorious cultist and alleged serial killer, Bode Owoeye aka Bode Itaapa, for conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and murder.
The suspect alleged that members of his gang acted as political thugs working for a certain politician (names withheld), who typically gave them instructions through another wanted cultist known as Adefioye Solomon.
Owoeye was arrested alongside Mukaila Lateef, 45, and David Samuel, 26.
Parading the suspect at the command headquarters in Osogbo on Friday, spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said that his arrest in Ilesa resulted from credible intelligence available to the command.
Opalola said that complaints were lodged at the Iperindo police station, of some missing children..
The complainants, according to her, said their children left their homes for their mining sites but did not return, following which the case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for discreet investigation.
According to her, credible Intelligence revealed that members of Aye confraternity were sighted moving around freely with dangerous weapons on that day, which led the detectives to search the hideouts of the cultists, where one locally banned pistol and a black mask were found and registered as exhibit.”
“Subsequently, the detectives on rescue mission later apprehended one Bode Owoeye, aka “Bode Itaapa,” who was identified as a member of Aye confraternity and is on a wanted-list of Osun State.”
“During the interrogation, he confessed that other members of his Aye confraternity were responsible for the abduction and killing of the victims inside the bush.
“He also admitted that his group was the political thugs working for one Honourable (names withheld by us), who usually gives them instructions through another wanted cultist, Adefioye Solomon aka Solo Iwara, who is responsible for many killings within the Ilesha axis.
“Also, he confessed that they attacked one APC candidate during the election into the House of Representatives in 2023, adding that they shot him in his head and chest at the party secretariat. He further revealed that the confraternity had over 30 pump-action rifles, which were mostly procured before the 2023 election.
“Subsequently, the detectives arrested one Samuel David, who was mentioned to be a member of Aye confraternity involved in the killing of one Ibrahin Taiwo, aka Omo-Alhaja. During the investigations, the suspect mentioned his five fellow hit-men under Kehinde Itaapa, who allegedly stormed the venue of the PDP rally on February 21, 2023, and shot the deceased.”
“In the course of the investigation, one of the complainants came to report that she was the mother of the late Taiwo Adebiyi, aka “Omo-Alhaja,” and alleged that one Shittu Lekan aka “Araba,” to be the killer of his son. Samuel David later took the detectives to Oke-Eta village, where he kept one pump action gun…
“Olabode Owoeye stated further that he bought the gun from Mukaila Lateef, who is his arms dealer, who illegally sold some guns to him. Meanwhile, efforts are still ongoing to arrest the fleeing members. The suspects will be charged to court on the completion of the investigation,” she added.
Opalola added that dangerous weapons such as one last Cally-made pistol with three live cartridges, one single barrel gun, and one pump action gun, including an unregistered motorcycle, one unregistered highlander jeep, a black face mask, some charms, and two cross bags, were recovered from criminals.
The image maker said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing members, adding that the suspects would be charged in court upon the completion of the investigation.