Gani Elese, leader of a dreaded cult group of Ondo state, Nigeria has been shot dead, local media reports.
He was killed during a gun duel with the anti robbery police team in the Owo area of Ondo state at 8:00am on Thursday.
It is thought that five other members of the cult group sustained gun injuries before escaping the shoot out.
Elese was said to have been responsible for a series of murder cases around the town, including the pre-election mayhem that took place in the days leading up to the November 26 Governorship election. It was also believed that he had involvements with other cult groups out of town and claimed supremacy over minor cults.
The cult had reportedly been terrorising the town in recent times, and local media suggested that the news of the death of Elese was a huge relief to locals.
Detectives had tracked the leader to his hideout which has now been identified as Jugbere camp – a farm settlement close to the state forest reserve area. The detectives and a local vigilante group stormed the hideout and engaged in a shoot-out with the gang.
There has been growing trouble with cult group clashes in the area, however with this latest incident – the death of a leader – there is hope that it will be a deterrence for other groups to act.
