By Babatope Okeowo,


The parents of Tosin Olusanya alias Target broke down and wept as the Akure High Court, Ondo State, sentenced him to seven years imprisonment for cultism and gang rape.

Olusanya, who had a shocked expression on his face, took one glance at his weeping parents and joined them in crying. As he cried, he begged for leniency, promising never to ever venture back into cultism. But nobody listened to him; the gravel had already fallen.

The seven years imprisonment came after weeks of trial. Olusanya was accused of initiating secondary schoolgirls into cultism. The convict, who is in his early twenties, is an undergraduate of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State.

According to him, he was initiated into the Eiye Confraternity while in secondary school. He would later initiate several other secondary schoolgirls and boys. Whenever it was time for initiation of girls into cultism, Olusanya would ensure that 10 boys’ take turn in raping a single girl. The court was also told that Olusanya used to insert red pepper into private parts of the new female converts, describing it as ‘baptism by fire.’
Different witnesses gave graphic details of the nefarious activities of Olusanya. The witnesses’ include National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials, teachers and victims.

An NSCDC official, Mr Folo runsho Oluwabunmi said that on February 4, 2016, a written request was made to Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), requesting for assistance in the arrest of Olusanya.

According to Oluwabunmi, Olusanya was declared wanted for cult related offences just after he matriculated.

He was trailed and arrested. One of the victims, Victor, 16, said: “I was initiated on June 12, 2015 by Target. For the initiation, my face was slashed, I was beaten and Regal Gin poured into my eyes.

I was also informed of the time and avenue of subsequent meetings. Samson aka Naija, introduced me to the cult group. I have not attended their meeting ever since. I have since renounced my membership.” Solomon, 17, a senior secondary student (SS1) told the court that he joined the cult group on January 7, 2016.

He said: “I was introduced to the group by Samson, a fellow student. I was initiated at bamboo area, within the school premises around 12pm. During my initiation, I was blindfolded with my school uniform and flogged by two members at the same time. A Regal Gin was splashed on my face. My identification name is ‘Road runner.’

Chibuike, Target and Rabiu were present during my initiation. I never attended any meeting since then.” A female student, Oluwatosin, said: “In December, Bukky came and invited me to a meeting within the school premises at a place called Bamboo Forest. We got there and met Target, our ex-student. He was with other students.

After the meeting, we went to Target’s house at Koseunti area along with Bukky and a JSS1 student. When we got to Target’s house, we were initiated through sex and cutting of our thumbs to get blood. Regal Gin was splashed on our faces. After my initiation, I never attended meetings and as a result on January 22, 2016, I was summoned to be gang raped for failing to attend meetings. I was lured with a promise that once I became a member I would become more confident and brave.”

Damilola, 15, said: “I was introduced to cultism through a friend, Bukola between July and September, 2015. Bukola took me to the guys that initiated me somewhere in Ondo Road, Akure. I got there with my friend but my friend did not follow me into the room with the guys. During the initiation, my face was covered with a cloth. I was pushed into a bed and the guys had sex with me.

They cut my thumb and dropped the blood on an axe. Our meeting always comes up every last Friday of the month at 2pm.” Tomiwa, another female student, in SS1, said: “I was among nine members of Eiye Confraternity group.

We threatened the principal of the school that her daughter would be killed and this led to the arrest of seven of us, two of our members escaped. We had two groups; the girls are blue angels, while the boys are Eiye. We all got initiated through beating and cutting of our thumbs.

We were also bath with dry gin. The name of our leader is Target. We usually meet behind the bush at the school premises.” The principal of the school, Mrs. Ola, said “On January 25, 2016, about 9 a.m., Mr. Thomas walked into my office and com-plained about his daughter Oluwatosin.

He said that she refused to come to school because one of her mates, Bukky threatened to amputate her legs or hands for not following her into the bush to be initiated into cultism. “The father said three weeks ago, Oluwatosin, his daughter came into the house very late from school looking very weak and sick.

He immediately called on the school counselors and they interrogated Oluwatosin, who told them the names of those involved. When we discovered that students were initiated outside the school and that Target was mentioned as the ring leader and that he lived very close to the school along with outside members, I decided to refer the matter to NSCDC.”

Another NSCDC official, Mr Ademola Adebowale Joshua said: “I was in the station when a case of rape, unlawful society and indecent treatment of minors was referred to our office for investigation. I obtained the voluntary statement of the complainants and other witnesses under caution.

The suspects were traced and arrested. After the conclusion of the investigation; the duplicate case file was forwarded to the DPP for legal advice.” The Presiding Judge, Justice Yemi Fasanmi in his verdict after the plea for leniency by the accused, sentenced him to prison for seven years without option of fine.

The Prosecution Counsel Mr. Remi Olatubora, who is the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, said the conviction would serve as deterrent to others who want to engage in cultism. Remi Olatubora noted that the convict was notorious for gang rape.

The charges preferred against him reads: “That you Olusanya Tosin Friday on or about January 25, 2016, in the Akure Judicial Division was found to be a member of Eiye Confraternity Secret group and punishable under section 1 of the Cultism, Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law Cap. 39 Vol. 2, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

“That you Olusanya Tosin Friday on or about January 25, 2016 in the Akure Judicial Division was found to be a person who gives financial and material support to Eiye secret confraternity cult group and sponsors the activities of the said secret cult group in the said school and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 3 (1) of the Cultism, Secret and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law Cap. 39 Vol. 2, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

“That you Olusanya Tosin Friday on or about January 25, 2016 in the Akure Judicial Division was found to have permitted and allowed an Eiye secret cult meeting and initiation of Oluwatosin at the house occupied by you at Koseunti are of Akure sometime around December 2015 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 4 (iii) of the Cultism, Secret and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law Cap. 39 Vol. 2, Laws of Ondo State 2006.”

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