Kwara: Cultist confesses to killing three members of rival group for promotion

By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

An alleged cult member, Tijani Olagunju, has confessed to killing three rival cult members in order to get promotion to the number two position of his group in Ilorin zone.

Tijani, a member of the Eiye Confraternity, said he used his late Nigerian Army Captain father AbdulAzeez Olagunju’s pistol to carry out the killings, adding that he was chosen by his gang members to be the executioner of rival cult members in superiority brawls.

The suspect told our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, on Friday on the sidelines of his parade by the state command of the Nigeria Police.

Tijani, who revealed that he dropped out of the University of Ilorin, added that he joined the cult gang in 2019.

He added that the accompanying benefits of being number two person in the zone include food, drinks, women and money.

He said: “My gang members picked me as their hitman (executioner) to accelerate my rise to the number two position in the Ilorin zone.”

Parading Tijani, Police Command Spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi, who said the suspect was arrested for belonging to a gang of thieves and cult gang, added that “the suspect during one of the cult’s escapades, himself and the other suspects at large, armed with one English Pistol and a locally fabricated pistol went and attacked and killed one Ismaila Alabi a.k.a Abbey, a barber at his barbing shop in Agbooba area of Ilorin on 21st of April.

“Tijani further confessed that sometime in February 2021 he also shot and killed one Emmanuel, a student of Human kinetic Education, University of Ilorin, in a bid to fast track his ascension to the top position in his cult group. Upon enquiry as to the source of his weapons, he confirmed that he took possession of his late father’s pistol, a retired army captain which he used in the killings he participated in.

“The pistol according to him is currently with a member of the Eiye cult group presently at large. Investigation into the matter is ongoing for possible arrest and prosecution of the suspects.”

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