An 18-year-old suspected cultist, Suleiman Dantata, has been arrested by police operatives in Owo, Ondo State, for allegedly hacking to death a prominent businessman, Raimi Ibrahim, in Elegbeka community, near Ipele, in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
The fatal attack occurred on March 28, 2025, at about 8:30 p.m., and has since sent shockwaves through the community. A second suspect, 23-year-old Ohi Usman, believed to have conspired in the crime, reportedly fled the area following the incident and remains at large.
According to the brother of the deceased, Usman played a key role by tracking Ibrahim’s movements on the day of the murder. He alleged that Dantata followed the victim to their mother’s shop and, upon sighting him, launched a brutal attack by inflicting deep machete cuts on his neck before fleeing the scene.
It was further gathered that Dantata and the victim’s father had recently been engaged in a heated argument regarding Dantata’s alleged involvement in a cult group. A source close to the family said, “The suspects had attempted to kill the deceased’s father but when his attempt to kill the man failed, he went after the deceased and hacked him to death. The community youths, sympathetic to Dantata’s family, went on rampage upon hearing the news.”
Following his arrest, Dantata was arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Oke Eda, Akure, on charges of conspiracy and murder. Police Prosecutor, Josephine Awana, told the court that the defendant and his accomplice inflicted fatal machete wounds on the neck of Ibrahim, which led to his death.
The charge sheet read, “That you, Dantata Ahmed ‘m’ and on 28/3/2025, 8.30p.m., at Elegbeka community via Ipele, Owo, in Magisterial District, conspired to commit felony to wit, murder and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate Olateju Odenusi-Fadeyi ordered that the accused be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Facility in Akure and adjourned the matter to May 14, 2025, for ruling.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has also apprehended three suspected members of the notorious Eiye and Ayee cult groups, who are said to have been involved in recent disturbances in Ondo town and its environs.
