Cultist arrested over killing of cousin

The police in Edo State have arrested a man identified as Igboje Victor over his involvement in the killing of his cousin during a cult clash.

Igboje was among the 54 suspects paraded by the Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Philip Aliyu Ogbadu, for allegedly committing various crimes in the state.

The incident, it was learnt, happened at Sabongida-Ora Opuje community of Owan West LGA of the state.

However, in an interview with Daily Trust, Igboje denied involvement in the killing.

He said, “I didn’t involve in the killing of my brother but was arrested because I am a member of Eiye cult group while my late brother is Aiye group.

“In our community, we used to sell Indian hemp to make money, but Aiye group sold us out to the police and one of our members was arrested.

“So Eiye group then asked those that fingered our member for arrest to go and bail him and the leader of both groups then scheduled a meeting at night to resolve the issue.”

He further explained that on the day of the meeting, Aiye members laid ambush and shot at Eiye members while on their way to the venue and killed one person.

He said, “The brother of the deceased who is a military officer said they should go and bury the boy immediately. After the burial, I went to the neighbouring community to buy food but when I came back, I learnt that Eiye has gone to attack an Aiye member who happened to be my cousin and he died as a result of the injury he sustained.”

He said he was not among the group that attacked his cousin, adding that, “Because we belong to rival cult groups, they said I was the one that killed him and I was arrested by police alongside others.

“I was not even there when my cousin was attacked. I didn’t kill my cousin.”

The CP said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was completed.