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Aunt of boy killed by cultists in Okitipupa cries for justice

Aunt of boy killed by cultists in Okitipupa cries for justice

By Tola Gbadamosi
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The aunt of the 20-year-old boy, Oluwaseun Emokeme, hacked to death at Igbokoda by a gang suspected to be cultists, Mrs Lucy Ireyemi has cried out to the government for justice on the murder of the boy.

Late Oluwaseun was said to have gone to watch a football match along with his friends last Sunday when masked gunmen invaded the area and shot him, after which they machetted him severally and left him in the pool of his blood.

Oluwaseun’s aunt, who spoke with The Hope yesterday said it was her neighbours who broke the sad news of the killing to her.

Mrs Ireyemi said Oluwaseun’s mother died about three years ago and left a property for him being the only son, but squandered the whole thing few years after.

Ireyemi, who was in grief said that Oluwaseun later returned to Igbokoda from Lagos when there was nothing left for him. She said she had been the one taking care of him.

While in Igbokoda, she said Oluwaseun became worse as he started moving with strange people, keeping bad company, drinking and smoking marijuana.

She said that he was a member of a dreaded group which she suspected to be a cult group and was known by the nickname “Smallie”.

She said that she was alarmed by his changed behaviour and had scolded him because she had much expectation from him as she wanted him to study Laboratory Science in OSUSTECH.

She explained that he took affront at her scolding and packed his things from her house and moved to Okitipupa so that he would be free to do as he pleased.

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She lamented the gruesome way he was killed and said that the town has been thrown into mourning since he was murdered.

She said that his father was not in good terms with his mother and had remarried a long time ago.

She pleaded with his paternal side family members to come forward to bury him as tradition demands, noting that his corpse is still lying in the custody of the police, as nobody from his father’s family has showed up to pick it and bury his remains.

Following the cult clash, the people of the town has been living in palpable fear as they believe that there might be a reprisal attack.

However, reprieve came for the people when the army launched exercise Crocodile Smile lV and warned criminals in the area to surrender their illegal weapons or face decisive security action.

 The Nigeria Army has also warned all criminal elements in Ondo State to desist from their nefarious activities and surrender illegal weapons or be met with decisive action by the security agencies.

Maj. Gen. Anthony Omozoje, General Officer Commanding 2 Division,Ibadan, gave the warning during the flag off at Okitipupa in Ondo State.

Omozoje, who was represented by Brig. Gen. Thomas Ogunsugba said that it became imperative for all criminals in the  State especially in the southern part of the state to shun crime or face full wrath of the law.

“It is in this light that exercise crocodile smile lV is being flag off in Okitipupa/Igbokoda southern parts of Ondo state.

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“The exercise is part of the Nigerian Army constitutional role of acting in aid to civil authority in combating the various security threats faced by the affected regions such as kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, pipeline vandalism and other sundry crimes.

“Criminal elements in the state were warned in their own interest to desist from their nefarious activities and surrender illegally acquired weapons or face decisive and appropriate action by the security agencies,” he warned.

Omozoje, who said that the exercise was designed to be inter – agency and inter service driven urged the participants which include NPF, DSS, NSCDC, Customs, Immigration, NDLEA and Prisons service to work harmoniously as a team and maintain the existing synergy among them.

“To the participants, as you aware the Nigerian army has zero tolerance for human rights abuses, respect the rights of law abiding citizens as you carry out your assigned tasks.

“You must adhere to the code of conduct and rules of engagement guiding the conduct of the exercise which has been issued.

“To the people of the state, I implore you to contribute your quota to the success of this exercise by volunteering information that could assist the brigade to realise the objectives of exercise crocodile smile lV.

“To the members of the forth estate of the realm, please endeavor to verify information from the appropriate authorities to avoid fake news that could jeopardize the success of the exercise,” he admonished.

Omozoje, therefore, appreciated the Chief of Army Staff Lt.Gen. TY Buratai for his immense support, direction and encouragement in efforts in confronting the numerous security challenges facing the country especially Ondo State.

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In his welcome address, Brig. Gen. Zakari Abubakar,Commander 32 Artillery Brigade said that the exercise was to checkmate various security challenges prevalent in the southern part of the state.

Abubakar said that the exercise would preventing stockpiling of arms and ammunition by criminal groups across the state.

Abubakar therefore assured people of the state that the brigade would continue to collaborate with other agencies and remain one of the shining light of the division to achieve the vision of the COAS.

In his speech, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ifedayo Abegunde pledged to continue to support any operation towards securing of lives and property of the citizenry across the state.

Akeredolu, who called on people of the state to join hand with the security agencies to reduce crime to minimum rate said that the government would not relent in its efforts to protect people of the state especially during the yuletide season.

The Hope reports that Nigerian Army donated some computer system & printers, exercise books, generators, stationary and sporting materials to schools at Atijere community in Ilaje local government area.

Also some communities in Ondo South senatorial district were provided with free health services as part of civil-military activities of the flag off exercise in the state.

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