18 ‘cultists’ held over eight murders in Lagos

Precious Igbonwelundu

OPERATIVES of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested 18 suspected cultists alleged to have been involved in cult clashes that killed eight persons in Ojota and Ogudu areas of Lagos State.

The suspects, said to be members of Aiye and Eiye cult groups, were among those paraded yesterday by Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

It was gathered that the operatives trailed some members of the gang to Akwa Ibom State after plans to unleash terror in the neighbourhood on January 9 to avenge the murder of an Aiye leader Solomon Cosmos alias Terror, who was killed by Eiye members in the presence of his son, was foiled.

Cosmos’ brother, Ikenna, was said to have mobilised members of Aiye who carried out series of attacks in January that led to the death of seven people identified as

Sule alias Minister, Pamilerin, Olaolu Abiodun, Daniel, Babatunde Adebayo and Dauda Akinode.

To arrest the cult violence, RRS decoy team was moved into the area, it was said.

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The CP said the operation yielded result with the arrest of 12 Aiye and six Eiye members including Ikenna Cosmos, 25, Olamilekan Saheed, 22, Olaide Ogungbile alias Street Boy, 18, Yekini Abiodun alias Shaba, 24, David Atanda alias Osiki, 27, John Abodunde alias Badoo, 25, Fasola Opeyemi, 20, Adeniyi Aladegbami, 36, Kolawole Ayotunde, 31, Korede Joyi, Dasilva, 21, Omobolaji Ogunniyi, 23, Obu Onyekachukwu, 34, Alade Samuel, 23, Ahmed Saka, 24, Nurudeen Babatunde, 24, Odumade Damilola, 23, Rafiu Olamilekan, 22, Rilwan Onibudo, 19, and Bamidele Suleiman, 25.

It was gathered that some of the suspects had bullet wounds at the point of arrest.

Odumosu said 165 suspected cultists were arrested in the last 119 days.

He said 164 armed robbery suspects were apprehended, while 98 armed robbery attempts were foiled.