A source in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State, has alleged that political interests are hindering the arrest of cultists responsible for the recent violence that claimed several lives, including a former APC youth leader.
The source, who spoke anonymously, criticized the government for failing to act decisively against cultists due to political affiliations. The clashes, reportedly between rival cult groups, left four people dead, including a mother and her infant, who were hit by stray bullets. One of the victims was Fisayo Oladipo, popularly known as Fissey Ehin Ogbe, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leader.
The violence occurred on Monday, January 6, 2025, and the victims’ bodies have since been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre morgue in Owo. The Ondo State government imposed a curfew to restore calm, but the community source claims this is only a temporary solution.
“The town is now under heavy surveillance by soldiers, police, civil defence, Amotekun, and other security personnel moving through different areas,” the source explained during an interview on Tuesday morning.
However, the source accused the government and politicians of benefiting from cult activities, saying, “The main issue is the government and the politicians because they are the real beneficiaries of these cult clashes. Cultism shouldn’t be thriving if not for politics. Politicians engage, patronize, and even position these cult members for their gains. When arrested, they ensure their release.
“If the government were truly serious about tackling cultism, we wouldn’t be dealing with this situation. The governor can’t claim ignorance of their identities or hideouts. During elections, they call on these cult leaders to work for them. How can people roam freely with sophisticated weapons even the police don’t possess? The delay in arrests is due to their close ties with the government.”
The source emphasized that while the curfew has brought some calm, it doesn’t address the root problem. “The government knows these people. They know their hideouts and leaders. It’s their relationship with the government that’s delaying their arrests,” the source added.
The incident highlights the ongoing insecurity in the state and the alleged complicity of political actors in fostering violence for their own interests.
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