The Ogun State Police Command has disclosed that plans had been concluded and that operatives of the command are on stand-by to frustrate any attempt by members of an unidentified notorious cult group allegedly planning to unleash terror and violence on Tuesday 7th of July 2020 across the state.
It explained that the planned violence is part of the activities lined by the notorious group to mark what they termed ‘7/7’ signifying the seventh day of July, a ‘celebration’ which they commemorate every year.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, said the preparation by the command to foil any form of violence in the state was not unconnected to the intelligence report at its disposal.
Ebrimson, through a statement released to newsmen by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the report at its disposal also had it that members of the group are also planning to use the said date to initiate new members into their fold.
According to him, a rival cult group will engage in a supremacy battle which may lead to loss of life and wanton destruction of property after they might have initiated new members into the group.
In view of this, the Command wishes to warn those having such devilish plans to have a rethink and retrace their steps as such a move will be met with serious resistance from security agencies.
“To this end, all the command’s tactical squads namely SARS, anti-cultists, anti-kidnapping, as well as all the DPOs and Area Commanders, have been put on red alert to nip in the bud any act capable of undermining the security of the state.
“Anybody who involved him/herself in such activities will be made to feel the full weight of the law because the command will not fold its hands while some unscrupulous elements will be making life difficult for law-abiding citizens of the state.
“The command is also using this medium to appeal to parents and guardians to warn their wards to stay clear of any unlawful gathering on, before and after the said date to prevent had I know situation,” the statement read.
The Police boss, also warned hoteliers across the state to ensure their facilities are not used for any cult related gathering, adding that any defaulting owners of such facility will be arrested and prosecuted.
He, however, assured residents to go about their lawful business without fear of harassment or intimation, saying the command has rolled out all in its arsenal to deal decisively with any group who tries to breach peace across the state.
Meanwhile, the Black Axe, which is also known as the Neo Black Movement, and originated at the University of Benin in the late 1970s are synonymous with the 7/7 ‘celebration’. The Black Axe has been linked with bloody inter-confraternity fighting for several years in the country.
