Suspected Cultist Shot Dead in Owo

A 40-year-old man, alleged to be a member of a cult group, was shot dead on Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

According to eyewitness accounts, the deceased was attacked by two masked gunmen who fled the scene after carrying out the act.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, revealed in a statement made available to journalists that the deceased had been on the police’s wanted list for multiple criminal activities.

Odunlami stated that the man was a known participant in the 2020 EndSARS protest, during which he allegedly attacked a police station, stealing an AK-47 rifle and a bulletproof vest. Additionally, she noted that the deceased was implicated in the murder of a local resident, further solidifying his notoriety within the community.

“The remains of the suspect have been deposited at a hospital morgue in the town,” Odunlami disclosed, adding that the police have launched an investigation to track down the perpetrators of the shooting.

The killing comes just weeks after the Ondo State Government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Owo due to escalating violence between rival cult groups. The clashes, which claimed four lives, had prompted heightened security measures in the area..