The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cult

  • Tension in Calabar over imminent cult clash

    There is tension in some part of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, following a cult clash.

    It was learnt that there was a misunderstanding between the Vikings Confraternity (aka Baggers) and its junior wing, the Skylos.

    A misunderstanding between them was said to have led to the killing of a member of the senior wing in Bayside, Calabar, last week.

    Since then, rumours of a reprisal have created tension in the capital city.

    At 8pm on Saturday, some suspected cultists demonstrated in some streets, especially the Bedwell/Goldie Streets, near a police station.

    They shot sporadically.

    Residents and passersby ran away.

    A resident in the area, who spoke in confidence, said: “When all this was happening, the police just closed their gate. There was not a single policeman to check the situation.”

    Besides, the city has been living in apprehension because of the emergence of a set of hoodlums, called “Skolombo Boys”.

    The dreaded group, which has female members, moves around in large numbers with heavy weapons.

    Its members are reputed to collect phones, cash and other valuables from their victims, usually on the streets.

    There have also been reports of robberies by the group, with teenagers as members.

    They consist mainly of homeless children roaming the streets, our reporter was told.

  • More killed in Edo cult war

    More persons have been killed in Benin City, the Edo State capitlal, by suspected rival cult groups.

    The latest was Thursday’s killing of three youths in the New Benin area of Benin City.

    Witnesses said the killers openly displayed their arms after the killings.

    Two others were killed at Upper Sakponba according to security sources.

    Over 13 persons have been killed in different parts of Benin City since the cult war began last weekend.

    Police spokesman, DSP Joseph Edogiawerie, could not be reached for comments on the latest killings, but he had earlier confirmed the arrest of some persons in relation to the ongoing cult war.

  • Six killed in Edo cult clash

    Six persons have been killed in various parts of Benin, the Edo State capital, following a renewed cult clash at the weekend.

    One was shot in the legs. He is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    Two were killed on Erediauwa Road at Upper Sakponba in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area.

    Two others were killed near New Benin Market, on New Lagos Road. Two more were killed on Ewah Road.

    Police spokesman Joseph Edogiawerie, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the killings.

    But he said he was aware of those killed at Upper Sakponba.

    Joseph said some people had been arrested in connection with the killings, adding that the police were still investigating the incident.

  • Rival cults clash in Ogun claims two, others injured

    Two persons suspected to be members of secret cults were killed and few others injured in  a pre – dawn attack and counter – attack between rival cult groups in Ijebu – Igbo, the headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Council of Ogun state.

    A deadly gun battle was said to have began around 3:56am at the Aleke Oke -Sopin area of Ijebu Igbo between waring cult groups –  Eye confraternity (the Air lords) and the Aiye confraternity (the Black axe).

    Residents were thrown into panic as they suddenly woke up following the sounds of sporadic gunshots, footsteps of persons fleeing from danger as well as groaning from others suspected to have been struck by bullets.

    Those picked dead at day break when the pitched – battle ended around 4:30am, are said to be 28years old Abiodun Adeniye and Taiwo Yusuf(24) while their remains have also been deposited at a morgue in  the town awaiting a postmortem examination.

    The  Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who  confirmed the incident, also told reporters that cutlasses, pairs of scissors,  guns, expended bullets, live cartridges, cults’ paraphernalia and charms were recovered from the cult groups.

    He appealed to  Ogun residents to collaborate with the police and other security agencies to succeed in the war against cultism in the state and accord security to all and sundry in the state.

  • Okorocha orders shoot-on-sight against cult members

    Okorocha orders shoot-on-sight against cult members

    •Sets up task force

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday ordered security operatives to shoot cult members

    He also instructed them to uncover and destroy their hideouts.

    Okorocha, who directed the establishment of an anti-cult task force, as part of measures to stem cultism, decried the killing of six people, who were murdered by cult members in Ohaji Egbema Local Government.

    Speaking during a meeting with stakeholders in the local government, the governor ordered the redeployment of Army, Police, State Security Service (SSS) and Imo Security Network to the troubled communities to forestall loss of lives and property.

    He urged the leaders of the communities to cooperate with the security agents in the fight against cult members and other criminals by providing information that would assist the operation.

    The President-General of Obiakpu community, Prince Ogwumaru Joseph, said the problem was caused by the clash between two rival cults- Day-Gbam and Day-Well.

    He said about 21 youths have been killed, adding that they live in fear.

  • Five suspected cult members remanded over alleged murder

    An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday remanded five suspected cult members at the Ikoyi Prisons over the alleged murder of a rival member.

    The accused are Ayodeji Olusegun, 23; Jide Shittu, 22; Caleb Abidemi, 22; Olaitan Gbadebo, 26, and Samuel Edward, 21.

    They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful killing and belonging to an unlawful society.

    However, the court did not take the pleas of the accused.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr O.A. Komolafe, ordered that the accused be remanded in custody, pending legal advice from the Office of the State Director of Public Prosecutions.

    He, thereafter, adjourned the case till April 19, for mention.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Frank Inah, said that the crime was committed on March 1 at about 11.30 p.m., at No. 5, Oluwoanoju St., Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    He said that the accused, who belonged to an unlawful society known as “Aye Confraternity,” with other members of the group engaged in a bloody fight with members of a rival `Eiye’ group.

    Inah said that during the fight, cutlasses and bottles were used and the deceased was stabbed, which led to his death.

    According to him, the offence committed contravened Sections 42, 221, 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    NAN reports that Section 221 provides that subject to the provisions of any other law, a person who commits murder shall be sentenced to death.

  • 7 killed in cults clash in Edo

    A renewed cult clash has claimed the lives of seven  persons across Edo state, including a  500 level Computer Science student of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
    Osajie Osamudiamen, the 500 level student was shot in the head at close range in a night club in Supreme  Hotel at Ekpoma.
    One Jonathan,  musician was killed at Atlantic  hotel, opposite the popular Ekiosa market in the heart of Benin.
    Jonathan  was also shot  in the head at a close range.
    An eye witness  who pleaded  anonymity said Jonathan  belonged to a popular cult group called “eiye” confraternity.
    The eye witness  said the resultant effect of Jonathan’s death was what spark up the reprisal  attack among the various cult group.
    He added  that on Saturday about five persons were killed in different locations around Upper Sakponba area of Benin.
    He however lamented that the police seems unaware or if aware, they are helpless  on how to curtaincurtain the killings.
    In Ekpoma, source told  Nation that Osajie who was until his death the head of Burkaneer in Ekpoma, had an issue with a rival cult group which was said to have been settle before he killed.
    Another casualty in the renew cult clash is a graduating female student of AAU who had acid  poured on her face.
    When contacted to react on the killing in his hotel, the owner of Supreme hotel, Mr Felix Akhabue who claimed ignorant of the killing in his hotel, however said a hotel is a public place.
    Attempt made to get police comments on the cults killings failed as the commissioner of police , Edo State , CP Foluso Adebanjo refereed our reporter to his PPRO who failed to pick several calls put across to him .

  • 10 killed in Edo cult clash

    Over 10 persons have been killed in different parts of Benin City in a renewed clash between two rival cult groups in the state.

    The killings was said to have started on Thursday.

    A community leader in Egor Village identified as Odigie was among the latest victim of the cult clashes.

    He was said to have been traced to his residence and shot dead by his assailants.

    A resident in the area said several shops in the area were closed for fear of arrest or further attacks.

    “People in the street have become apprehensive. They are afraid of arrest,” he said.

    A son of Benin Chief was said to have killed last Thursday.

    Victims of the latest killings, according to sources, included students, commercial bus drivers and businessmen.

    Spokesman for the state Police Command, DSP Moses Eguaveon, said several suspects have been arrested.

    He disclosed that some arms and ammunition were also recovered.

    According to him: “There are cult -related incidents in Benin metropolis. Somebody was shot in UNIBEN yesterday. Some arrests have been made in cult related matters.

    “We are putting measures in place to get to the root of the matter”.

     

  • Policeman, three others killed in cult clash

    A police inspector, identified as Mathew, has been killed by suspected cultists in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    Police spokesman John Umoh said the matter was being investigated. No one, he said, has been arrested.

    It was learnt that Mathew left his room at Zion Street, 8 Miles, to ease himself when he ran into some suspected cultists, who were passing by.

    According to a source, he pointed his torchlight at them and they queried why he should do so.

    He said: “They asked the man why he should point his torchlight at them.

    “He did not quarrel with them. After that he just went back into his room to sleep.

    “After about 10 minutes, they mobilised themselves and came back and attacked him in his house. They hacked him to death.

    “We have no idea which group it was, but we know they were cultists.”

    The deceased’s neighbours said they had been living in fear as groups of boys, who they believed to be cultists, terrorise them.

    In Rivers State, three suspected cultists have been confirmed dead in Omuawa community, Ikwerre Local Government Area, after a clash between Degban and Dewell cult groups.

    The clash, which took place yesterday evening, also led to the arrest of five suspected cultists by the State Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

    An eyewitness, Jonah Nnnana, said: “The fight started by 6:30pm between Degban and Dewell.

    “Members of Degban cult said they were avenging the death of their members. In fact it was a bloody evening.”

  • Ex-militant killed in Rivers’ cult clash

    An ex-militant, ThankGod Okpo, has been killed in a cult clash at Rumuoro Ogbakiri, Emuoha Local Government of Rivers State.

    The 24-year-old, was reportedly killed when two rival cult groups – De-Well and De-Gbam– clashed at a funeral.

    It was gathered that a member of De-Well group on April 12 disrupted the wake of the late mother of Brig-Gen. Ama, who hails from the community.

    The De-Gbam group promised to avenge the disruption during the wake for the late mother of a De-Well leader.

    During the wake, the De-Gbam group came on a repraisal attack.

    The deceased’s father, Dennis Okpo, said his son’s remains were in a morgue in Port Harcourt.

    It was learnt that the deceased died in a hospital, following matchete cuts.

    The victim was among the early beneficiaries of the late President Musa Yar’Adua’s amnesty to restive youths of the Niger Delta.

    It was gathered that he was among the first set who accepted the amnesty in the local government.

    He surrendered his arms to the then council chairman, Emeka Woke, at Rumuekpe community school field in 2011.

    ThankGod came back from Malaysia last November where he was trained in pipeline wielding for one year.

    A source said the deceased took to okada riding after his return.

    “He was taking his younger brother, who was injured at the funeral to the hospital, when they were waylaid by the suspected killers.

    “His elder brother was also with them, but his siblings were not attacked.

    “I suspect he was a cult member because the killers hacked him to death, without touching his siblings.”

    But the elder Okpo said his son was not a cultist. “My son was not a member of De-well or De-Gbam, but a repentant militant, a repentant militant cannot be a cultist.

    “He was never a cultist even before he accepted the amnesty.”

    It was gathered that ThankGod was not at the funeral but was told by his mother to take his younger brother to the hospital.

    When our reporter visited the community, peace had returned in the area and cult members had gone into hiding for fear of arrest.

    Residents said the police are on routine patrol in the community.

    They claimed two people had been arrested.