20-year-old Opeyemi Ajani, one of the 150 suspects arrested by the Ogun State Police Command in connection with the unrest in Ifo, has said he killed his victim in defence.

Ajani was accused of killing a cult member which sparked off chaos in the area.

Ajani said he was a mechanic and not a cult member, claiming that he killed his victim in self-defence.

He explained that some gang members robbed him of his phone and some money while he was going to his family house in Ifo.

He said,

“The man I killed wanted to snatch my phone. I did not know him. He called me while I was walking on the street and I ignored him. Suddenly, I discovered that they were many. They advanced towards me and one of them brought out a knife and stabbed me in the eyes. He also broke a bottle and stabbed me.

“I took part of the broken bottle and stabbed him in the neck and he bled to death. Others ran away. People later grabbed me and took me to the police station.”

Another suspect, 27-year-old Saheed Taiwo, confessed being a cultist and not a robber. He said he joined Aiye cult in 2017 through a neighbour, who is now based in Abuja.

He said,

“I am a cultist and operate within my area in Itokin. I did not kill anybody or rob. We engaged in a fight with Eiye confraternity. We don’t use guns. We fought with our rivals so that we could be allowed to give tickets to okada riders (commercial motorcyclists) on the roads.”

“I was arrested for cultism not robbery. I am the number one (cult leader) and I told them it is true,” another suspect, Taoreed Banmeke.