Re-Enugada/Ago-Ika Crisis: No One Died, Police Condemn Media Reports, State Own Side

The suspected notorious cultist, Akuko Berger

ABEOKUTA - Ogun State Police Command has reacted to the widely reported story of the alleged killing of a 17-year-old female senior secondary school student in Abeokuta by operatives of OP MESA, saying that the media reports lacked facts.

It said, though, three persons were hit by stray bullets, all of whom were rushed to a hospital, and are recuperating, adding that none of them died, "contrary to rumuor circulating on social media".

The statement, e-signed by the command's Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, entitled, "Re-enugada/Ago-Ika Crisis, which reads thus: "The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to some newspaper headlines in respect of the crisis that erupted on Thursday, 21st of July, 2022 at Enugada area of Abeokuta between policemen attached to the Anti cultists unit of the command and some cult members.

"Some media houses have gone to town with different narratives, which is contrary to the true position of the incident.

"To set the record straight, the incident happened when the Anti-cultist team were on routine patrol of the metropolis and sighted two amongst the most wanted cultists who have played major roles in various violent clashes in recent time.

Identified simply as ‘Akuko Beggar and Slim Cash, the team then rounded the duo up and got them arrested. 

"As soon as they were arrested, some of their members around the place mobilized and attacked the police team; they succeeded in setting free one of the suspects simply known as Akuko Beggar, after inflicting several machete cut injuries on one of the policemen, but the other suspect Slim Cash was taken into custody.

"The hoodlums further mobilized themselves in large numbers, armed with dangerous weapons to attack the divisional headquarters at Enugada, but they were repelled by policemen. In the process, three persons were regrettably hit by stray bullets and they are all recuperating in the hospital.

"It is also worthy to note that, contrary to rumor circulating on social media, none of the victims has given up the ghost, they are all receiving treatment in the hospital and police delegates led by the area commander Adatan had visited them.

"The command, therefore, wishes to state categorically that the war against cultism will continue, no matter the challenges or propaganda embarked upon by cultists and their sponsors".

Oyeyemi further said that the command was determined, more than ever, to rid the state of hoodlums who have been terrorizing the state and making life difficult for innocent citizens adding that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, had appealed to the general public to support and cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the onerous task, so as to make Ogun State a peaceful place for all to live.