The Ogun State Police Command announced on Sunday the arrest of AbdulAzeez Ibrahim, an alleged serial rapist, kidnapper, and murderer, in the Imaweje community in Ijebu-Ode.
Omolola Odutola, the command’s spokesperson, told reporters that Ibrahim was detained at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.
According to the police, the suspect also served as a leader and gunrunner for the renowned Neo-Black Axe Movement, also known as the Aye Confraternity.
Ibrahim was also accused of being the confraternity’s second-in-command, known as “Butcher,” and the custodian of all gang weapons used to terrorise certain areas in Ijebu-Ode.
Odutola said, “Ibrahim was arrested in the early hours of today (Sunday). He claimed to be a final-year student at Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijegun.
“He is a serial rapist and murderer. He had earlier been wanted in a kidnapping case.
“He keeps the arms and ammunition the group used for their operations in the Ijebu area.
“He is believed to be the second in command, which is why they regard him as the ‘Butcher’. He is the leader of the group terrorising some communities in Ijebu-Ode.
“Following intelligence, the Special Weapons and Tactics team stormed his hideout, where several weapons and charms were recovered.
“One serviceable Beretta fully loaded with four rounds of live ammunition, one pump-action Rifle-Josef with 10 rounds of live cartridges, one English long double barrel rifle, two locally made short single barrel rifles, one locally made short single barrel with two rounds of live ammunition, assorted charms of body armour, and others were recovered from his apartment.”
She mentioned that the state commissioner of police, Abiodun Alamutu, had promised to crack down on known criminals in the state.
Odutola added, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun, through various sting operations, has promised to eliminate all criminal elements, including syndicate groups notorious for kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, and cultism.”
In recent years, Ogun State has faced cult-related activities and killings. In the Sagamu area, one of the incidents apparently killed several individuals and resulted in numerous arrests.
Last week, two unidentified people were brutally butchered to death by suspected cultists in Ota town, in the Ado-Odo Ota area of the state.
Following the increase in cases, the police command has carried out a number of operations in recent months to combat the spread of cultism throughout the state.
During one of its September 2023 operations, the SWAT squad apprehended Ogunnibi Hammed, the accused boss of the Eiye Confraternity, as well as 18 other suspected gang members.
The authorities described Hammed as a notable cultist who was well-known for his involvement in heinous attacks on rival cult groups in the state.
Others apprehended during the sting operations include Sodipo Azeez, also known as Bintobo, Ilori Gbenga, Lamina Yusuf, Kolawole Rasaq, Adelaja Otusanya, Adeyemi Soneye, Oseni Toheeb, ThankGod Naba, Lekan Qudus, Adelusi Omotayo, Timothy Monday, Ayomide Ishmael, Oboje Jeremiah, Ayoola Oladayo, Jacob Chidi, John Innocent, Ayangbile Victor, and Jacob Sunday.
