The Kwara State Police Command paraded on Friday seven suspected criminals involved in various alleged crimes.
Among them was a suspect allegedly involved in the brutal murder of Anthony Kayode Balogun, the hotelier who was murdered on August 8, 2024, at his hotel in the Olulande area of the Ilorin metropolis by suspected cultists.
At a press conference in Ilorin on Friday, Commissioner of Police Victor Olaiya disclosed that a suspect, Abolarin Samuel Idowu, aka Sam Caro, 37, was arrested at his hideout near a Conoil filling station in Ita Alamu, Ilorin, in connection with the murder of the hotelier, three weeks after the incident.
“A search conducted at the time of his arrest led to the recovery of a locally fabricated gun and three live cartridges.
“The suspect admitted to being a member of the notorious Eiye secret cult, initiated in 2011 by an individual named “Otumba,” who remains at large,” the commissioner stated.
He further disclosed: “Investigation revealed that Abolarin Samuel Idowu, along with his accomplices, Alowonle, aka Aloo, and Samuel, aka Sam Febee-Kay, was responsible for the murder of Anthony Kayode Balogun.
“The killing was reportedly a revenge mission for a 2022 cult anniversary celebration during which the deceased allegedly ordered the killing of an Eiye Confraternity member named Abbey.”
He said following the suspect’s confession, additional searches at various criminal hideouts led to the recovery of several exhibits, including two locally-made shotguns, one cut-to-size locally-made gun, one multi-purpose battle axe, eight live cartridges, one locally-made sword, one cutlass and two bottles of unknown liquid, suspected to be hard drugs.
