A confessed member of a secret cult group called Aye, Olabode Owoeye, popularly known as ‘Bode Itapa’ has commended Osun Police Command for ensuring he was arrested after being on the police wanted list for over 2 years.
Bode Itapa’ was among suspected criminals arrested across the state for various crimes paraded at the Osun Police Command headquarters in Osogbo on Friday.
Before his eventual arrest, Bode’s group, Aye Supremacy’s fight with the Eye cult group in Ilesa and its environs, often resulted in the deaths of several individuals including residents who usually get hit by stray bullets.
Answering questions from journalists, Bode Itapa, admitted being a member of the Aye group but denied killing anyone, adding that he was however present when two members of a rival group were killed.
“Have been with the police for 104 days. I am not a political thug. I am their child, they would have secured my release. I am a member of Peoples Democratic Party but I do not work for them to get to position of authority.
“I want to plead with the government to have mercy on mercy, I won’t repeat mistakes I made in the past. I thank Osun State Police Command, the Anti kidnapping Squad. I thank them because they did their job well.
“This will serve as a big lesson for others that are members of cult groups or involved in thuggery. There is no one above the law. I regret being a member of cult group. Whoever sees me in this state my take caution and change. If they fail to change, they will meet their waterloo one day,” he said.
Giving details of how ‘Boda Itapa’ was arrested, Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who presented him and other suspects arrested to journalists said, “On 9th February, 2024 at about 1820hrs, complainants reported at Iperindo Police station that, on 08/02/2024 their children Kelechi Agha and Tega Robinson left homes to their mining sites and they did not return. The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for discreet investigation.
“Credible Intelligence revealed that, members of Aye confraternity were sighted freely moving around with dangerous weapons on the dat the two went missing, which led the detectives to search the hideouts of the cultists where one locally made barretta pistol and a black mask were found and register as exhibit.
“Subsequently, the detectives on rescue mission later apprehended one Bode Owoeye a.k.a. “Bode Itaapa” who was identified as a member of Aye confraternity who is on a wanted-list of Osun State. During the interrogation, he confessed that, other members of his Aye confraternity were responsible for the abduction and killing of the victims inside the bush.
“Also he confessed that they attacked one Honourable Ayodeji Olaolu, the APC candidate during the election into the House of Representatives in 2023, at the party secretariat and shot him on his head and chest. He further revealed that, the confraternity had over 30 pump action rifles which were mostly procured before the 2023 election.
“Subsequently, the detectives arrested one Samuel David who was mentioned to be a member of Aye confraternity involved in the killing of one Ibrahin Taiwo a.k.a. Omo-Alhaja. During the investigations, the suspect mentioned his five fellow hit-men under Kehinde Itaapa who stormed the venue of the PDP rally on the 21/02/2023 and killed the deceased.”