The Ogun State Police Command has reacted to the failed attempt by cultists to free their members arrested by its Anti-Cultism Unit.
The spokesman of the Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, made the position known in a statement he issued on Friday.
Oyeyemi said contrary to reports in some publications, the cult members attacked policemen who nabbed two of their members already declared wanted.
He gave the names of those arrested before the attack as simply Akuko Beggar and Slim Cash.
However, following the attack, one of them was successfully freed by the cult members.
He said: “The attention of Ogun state Police Command has been drawn to some Newspaper headlines in respect of the crisis that erupted on Thursday 21st of July 2022 at Enugada area of Abeokuta between policemen attached to Anti cultists unit of the command and some cult members.
“Some Media houses have gone to town with different narratives which is contrary to the true position of the incident.
“To set the record straight, the incident happened when the anti cultists team were on routine patrol of the metropolis and sighted two amongst the most wanted cultists who have played major roles in various violent clashes in recent time, who are simply identified as ‘Akuko Beggar’ and ‘Slim cash’. The team then rounded the duo up and got them arrested.
“As soon as they were arrested, some of their members around the place mobilized and attacked the police team; they succeeded in setting free one of the suspects simply known as ‘Akuko Beggar’ after inflicting several machete cut injuries on one of the policemen, but the other suspect Slim cash was taken to custody.
“The hoodlums further mobilized themselves in large numbers, armed with dangerous weapons to attack the divisional headquarters at Enugada, but they were repelled by policemen. In the process, three persons were regrettably hit by stray bullets and they are all recuperating in the hospital.
“It is also worth of note that contrary to rumor circulating on social media, none of the victims has given up the ghost, they are all receiving treatment in the hospital and police delegates led by the area commander Adatan had visited them.
“The command therefore wishes to state categorically that the war against cultism will continue, no matter the challenges or propaganda embarked upon by cultists and their sponsors.
“We are determined more than ever to rid the state of these hoodlums who have been terrorizing the state and making life difficult for innocent citizens.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, hereby appeals to the general public to support and cooperate with the police and other security agencies in this onerous task so as to make Ogun state a peaceful place for all to live.”