— 25 suspects arrested in connection with Owo cult clashes- Police

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

A 34 year old father of seven, Monday Elela, has explained why he and the wife decided to murder their 14 year old son, Tope, at Ajowa Akoko, in Ondo state.

The couple after killing their son, buried him in a shallow grave behind their house at Ajowa Akoko, area of the state.

Elela said that their son was disgracing the family because of his criminal activities.

In an interview, Elela, whose wife had escaped, said that he did not know that the boy would die when he beat him in the night after he escaped from the custody of the State Security Network codename Amotekun

According to him ” l have seven children Tope is the only one that is bringing disgrace to the family. He engages in housebreaking, stealing, and other criminal activities.

Elela said the deceased had escaped from the Amotekun’s detention and was embarrassing him as a result of criminal activities he engaged in.

He said when he discovered early in the morning that his son was dead, he buried him under the banana tree after informing the Amotekun personnel.

The suspect was paraded alongside other suspected criminals including those cult members arrested after the Owo clash which claimed many lives.

Six of the suspected cultists who fled Owo town after the bloody clash were arrested in Akure, the state capital.

The police commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, said that suspect and his wife decided to murder their son because he was always involved in criminal activities.

Afolabi told newsmen in Akure that ” On the 30th of December, the police received an anonymous call that one Elela Monday living in Ajowa Akoko killed his 14 year old Son named Tope Elela and buried him in a shallow grave under a banana tree behind his house.

“Suspect was arrested and during interrogation said the Boy was always involved in criminal activities and was embarrassing him, so in order to put a stop to the disgrace, he and his wife decided to kill the boy.

The police commissioner, also, said that 25 suspects have been apprehended in
connection with the recent crisis in Owo town.

Afolabi said that ” few suspects have been identified as having direct involvement in the criminal activities.

“One Olamide Ogunseyila ‘n’ age 28 year confessed to being a member of a cult group. Gbenga Bisi, ‘F’ age 25 years (Wife of Steven Dada, also known as “Ogodo,” who is currently on the run) was apprehended alongside Gbenga Esther, ‘F’, age 20 years at a hideout where the Police found a double-barrel, cut-to-size gun, two expended cartridges, and additional ammunition.

” Ijarotimi Taye, ‘M’ aged 61 year, the Police discovered physical injuries round his body and could not give a satisfactory account on how he got the injuries raising suspicions about his involvement.

” The duo of Bero Adeola ‘M’ age 30 years and Olabode Ojo ‘M’ age 30 years (A.k.A Paw paw) who claimed his brother’s wife and child were killed in the melee was arrested in their hideout in Akure.

“They both confessed to be cultists belonging to Ave group and claimed its Eiye and Aiye group that are fighting.

” The Suspects claimed they left Owo because of the fight because they do not want to be part of it.

“Ijalade Olorunfemi, ‘m’ aged 42 years and Ayodele Olayemi ’m’ aged 20 years have been implicated as cultists through ongoing investigations.

“The remaining suspects are currently undergoing thorough interrogation to ascertain their roles in the crisis while the command is intensifying efforts to apprehend Steven Dada (alias “Ogodo”) and any other individual connected to these criminal activities.

Also paraded include, a suspect, Wasiu lbrahim, who reportedly killed one Tijani for allegedly stealing an android phone at St Luke area of Akure.

The victim was said to have been beaten to stupor by Ibrahim, a vulcanizer and others who are currently at large.

Afolabi said that the victim “was later dumped in front of his father’s house after they realized he was unconscious believing he was pretending.

“While the parents were trying to rush him to the nearest hospital, he gave up the ghost.

” Immediately he died, the suspects took to their heels, however luck ran against Wasiu Ibrahim who was not aware of his death and was arrested in his shop.

The police Chief noted that “effort is on to arrest others involved in the jungle justice.