A suspected serial killer and notorious cultist, Owolabi Oludipe has been shot dead during a gun duel with operatives of the Ogun State Police Command.
Confirming the killing via a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the operation was carried out by officers from the Odogbolu division on January 31.
Oyeyemi said the suspect had been on the wanted list of the police, adding that he was allegedly sighted at Ita-Ado area of Odogbolu where he and his cult group were said to be planning another attack in the community.
According to him, the Divisional Police Officer of Odogbolu division mobilised his men and moved to the scene following a distress call.
On seeing the policemen, the police spokesman explained that gang engaged them in a shoot-out upon which their leader “Somori” was shot and injured; while others escaped into the bush with their operational weapons.
“The suspect was quickly taken to hospital but died while receiving treatment. He was responsible for the killing of a rival Eiye cult group leader by name Shoyombo Sanyaolu Fakoya on the 11th of November 2020 during a supremacy battle between the two groups, he confessed to all the killings on the hospital bed before he gave up the ghost,” he said.
Items allegedly covered from the deceased include assorted charms, two live cartridges and a mobile phone.
The police spokesman noted that another notorious serial killer terrorising Ijebu-Ode and its environs had earlier been killed by operatives of the command early last month in a similar circumstance.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun praised his men for their gallantry display, while ordering that efforts should be intensified to apprehend the rest of the gang members.
The police boss also directed 24-hour surveillance of the town and its environs in order to checkmate the activities of hoodlums in the area
