A suspected cultist, Oludare (surname withheld), has confessed to being a member of Neo Black Movement, also known as Black Axe or Aye Confraternity, while also disclosing that he is in the fourth person in the group’s hierarchy.
Oludare, popularly known as ’04’, was arrested by the Anti-Cultism Unit of Osun State Police Command following the recent killing of three young people, two of whom were students of Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, by suspected members of the Black Axe.
Sunday Tribune gathered that Black Axe cult members invaded the College of Technology on September 21, killing an HND I student, who was said to have belonged to Eiye Confraternity and was next in line to becoming the group’s Number 1.
It was further learnt that in defiance of the cancellation of sign-out ceremony usually done by final year students after their last paper, some final year students arranged a party in Ilo Community in Ijebu Jesa the following day, September 22. But Eiye cult members, in a reprisal attack, reportedly invaded the party and killed two persons, one of whom was in his sign-out shirt
Briefing journalists on how Oludare was arrested, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, said that on September 30, at about 8a.m., the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU) of the command was informed by a member of the public that Aye cult members allegedly involved in the Esa Oke incident were sighted at Iyemogun area in Ilesa.
CP Gotan stated further that ACU operatives swung into action and arrested Oludare while others fled.
Information gathered by the police had it that Oludare allegedly aided the escape of the perpetrators of the killing in the college by taking them through Ijaregbe on Ijebu Jesa Road.
However, the Ilesa-born suspect, aged 28, denied being part of the killing in Esa Oke, though he admitted to being a member of Aye Confraternity.
He said in an interview: ‘It is true that I’m an Aye Confraternity member, but I did not step into the College of Technology in Esa Oke on the day the students signed out. I have neither handled a vehicle nor motorcycle, so I was not the one who helped Aye Confraternity members to escape after the killing. I didn’t go to meet them in Ijebu Jesa as being said. I practise my Aye cult membership in Ilesa, where I’m domiciled.’
Though he admitted being the one who spoke in a voice note sent to one of his cult group members identified as ‘Rude Boy,’ wherein he asked why they should ‘run shit’ in broad daylight. He said that he was referring to the clash, not the killing.
He also admitted telling the cult member that his photo and those of others had been posted on Eiye Confraternity’s platform as targets.
‘I didn’t know about the plan for the deadly clash. Those of us based in Ilesa were not involved. We were at peace there,’ he said.
He also told the Sunday Tribune how he became a cult member and was elevated to the Number 4 position: ‘I joined Black Axe Confraternity in 2023. I approached a friend named Ayo to join the cult group. He was a neighbourhood brother but is dead now. He had confided in me that he was a cultist. Why I decided to join was because at that time, people used to take me for a ride. Others guys used to oppress me, so I decided to become a cultist to stop that,’ he said.
Speaking on how he was initiated, Oludare disclosed: ‘I was taken inside the bush late in the night. There were many of us and we were all beaten. They made an incision on our thumbs and pressed droplets of blood on pieces of kolanut. We were made to eat the kolanut as a form of oath. After some time, we were declared members of the cult group.’
He claimed that he had never been involved in cult clashes, but was made Number 4 because of his being very active. He revealed the duties he was performing as a result of his position,: ‘As Number 4, it was my duty to punish our members found fomenting trouble anywhere. I would go there and carry such member away for punishment due to him.’
With Number 4 having the responsibility of being the group’s armourer and the one to forcefully collect from members and non-members, Oludare said: ‘I used to send my ‘butchers’ to collect the money which would be handed over to me.’
Another suspect, Ridwan Alawode, popularly known as Rado, aged 26, also said he’s not a cultist, but police authorities told Sunday Tribune that he had been arrested sometime ago for allegedly killing one Waheed, an allegation which he also denied.
He said further that the deceased was killed and set ablaze in his neighbourhood but he was not involved in.
Alawode said he was picked because he sat to interact with some youths at the area the incident occurred.
The case is said to still be in court.
He was also said to have allegedly inflicted machete cuts on someone during Osun Festival on August 8.
Boluwatife Olofin, aged 22, who was also arrested for engaging in cultism, told the Sunday Tribune that he joined Alora to get connected with top shots.
The Ekiti-born suspect said: ‘I live in Ibadan. I’m a cultist but was not part of the recent clash. I joined Alora cult before I gained admission into the College of Technology.
‘I was initiated into the group by one area brother who is now in one of the country’s security forces. I was the one who intimated him of my intention to join a cult group,’ he said.
On why he decided to join Alora cult group, he said: ‘I preferred the Alora cult group because I always envied the way they dress up as fine guys. I noticed the were well connected. I also craved for money.’
He said he’s also into yahoo business which he started in 2020 after his secondary school education.
‘I went through the usual initiation process. We were beaten, had our fingers incised with a blade. Our blood was mixed with something and we were given to eat,’ he stated.
The police command is currently in search of one Jamiu a.k.a Rude Boy and another one popularly known as Elewedu, alleged to have actively participated in the school invasion, while investigation is still ongoing.