The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultism

  • Command nabs four for alleged murder, cultism

    Ekiti State Police Command has arrested four persons for alleged cultism and murder.

    The suspects are reportedly members of Eiye confraternity, who were allegedly involved in the killings of members of Black Axe “AIYE” confraternity in Ekiti and Ondo states recently.

    Among those nabbed by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad are Ayodele Ayodeji, 31, Olamide Olurunsola, 43, Gbenga Aluko, 29, and Adewale Adekunle, 23, all from Ifaki-Ekiti. Others escaped.

    A statement by Police Commissioner Mr. Asuquo Amba in Ado-Ekiti yesterday said the suspected cultists claimed that they surrendered their guns to a prominent king in Ondo State in 2017, but the claim was found to be false.

    Investigation showed that the suspects had been using a Toyota Camry Car with number plate KJA 710 FF to perpetrate the killings of victims. The vehicle has been recovered and is in police custody.

    Amba said items recovered from the suspects are: one cutlass, charms, one Dell laptop, a foreign woman photograph, two Ipad phones and one Infinix phone.

    He said:  “On February 11, about 2:30pm, at Ifaki-Ekiti, effort intensified by the team led to the arrest of some members of Eiye Supreme Confraternity Group. The suspects confessed to be members of Supreme Eiye Confraternity and

    claimed that their guns were in the custody of their fleeing colleagues.”

    The CP said the police have also arrested Kehinde Adams and Adeyanju Timilehin for allegedly receiving stolen property.

    “On February 8, the suspects were arrested with the aid of tracking technology.

    They confessed to have bought a stolen Infinix Hot 5 phone from Adeniyi Adewumi and Sunday Idowu, who belong to a robbery syndicate, who had earlier been arrested, charged to court and remanded in prison custody.”

    Amba said the suspects would be arraigned after investigations.

     

  • Seven arraigned for alleged cultism

    Seven men were yesterday brought before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court for alleged cultism.

    They are Abdulquadiri Mukaila, 18; Shina Bodunde, 28; Nicholas Nnamdi, 27; Kehinde Aka, 31; Yinka Badmus, 24; Akeem Shittu, 32 and Nurudeen Taiwo, 35.

    The accused are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and membership of an unlawful society.

    The prosecutor, Lucky Ihiehie, alleged that the men committed the offences on December 31 at about 12:30am at Itire, Lagos.

    The accused, he said, belonged to Eiye Confraternity.

    Read also: Court remands four for alleged cultism, kidnap

    “The accused, who assembled at Itire, conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by attacking themselves with weapons such as guns and cutlasses,” Ihiehie alleged.

    He said the Itire Police Division received a distress call from a church about the suspects’ activities.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate E. Kubeinje granted them N50, 000 bail with one surety each in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must live within the court’s jurisdiction and be employed, with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    Kubeinje adjourned till March 11.

  • Court remands four for alleged Cultism, kidnap

    A Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday ordered the remand in Prison custody of four persons for alleged Cultism and Kidnap.

    The suspects are Barizaa Teeiye ’25’, Emmanuel Osaroejiji ’27’, Nale Dumbor ’34’ and Bari Jonah ’31’.

    They are alleged to have belonged and participated in the activities of a secret cult called ‘Degbam’.

    They also allegedly kidnapped one Chibuike Ezenkwe while armed with locally made pistols and other dangerous weapons.

    They allegedly carried out their evil plans at Eleme local government area, Rivers State on May 29, 2018.

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    The prosecutor, Wilson Isaiah told the court that their offence contravenes section 7 (C), 1 (1) of the secret cult and similar activities (prohibition) laws of Rivers State No. 6, of 2004 and 1 (2) (b) of the Rivers State Kidnap (prohibition) law number, 3 of Rivers State 2009.

    The three-count charge of kidnapping, secret cult and similar activities was not read to them because the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter hence they did not take any plea.

    The Magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and the case file remitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

    He adjourned the case till February 7, 2019 for DPP’s advice.

  • Police parade suspects for alleged murder, cultism

    Osun State Police Command yesterday paraded Dauda Amusat (aka Adasi) for alleged murder.

    Two others, Alade Afeez (alias Esubiyi) and Adesoji Seyi (aka Osa) were also paraded for alleged cultism.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, who paraded them at the command headquarters in Osogbo, said investigation showed that the suspects had killed many people before they were arrested.

    He said Amusat was nabbed last December 28 about 4pm at Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government.

    Adeoye said Amusat, 36, was arrested for conspiracy and murder of 42-year-old Sanusi Isiaka, who was allegedly killed on May 14, 2017 around 9pm near Slava Construction Company, Iwo Road, Osogbo.

    He alleged that the deceased’s head was cut off by the suspects before they used it for ritual.

    The CP said: “The deceased was lured from Saki in Oyo State to Osogbo a few days before his death by one of the principal suspects, Yekini Ayinde (aka Abija), now at large.”

    He said the deceased was asked to deliver 500 bags of rice and was later lodged in a hotel with the expectation of getting money for the sale of rice through Ayinde.

    “The deceased was taken to the scene where he was killed. The money was stolen and shared by the suspects.”

    Adeoye said the suspect confessed in his statement to the police that seven of them perpetrated the killing and that four of them used the dismembered head for ritual.

    Addressing reporters, Amusat confessed to the crime, admitting that he put rope on the deceased’s neck, while his colleagues killed him with a knife.

    He said: “I sell beer at Ifon-Osun where I met Abija. He promised to give us N200,000 if we can help him kill the man. He sent his people to bring the man to us at Okefia, Osogbo. When we finished the job, he gave Oyama N65,000, he gave me N70,000 so that I can use N5,000 to buy beer for people the following day. I took the head of the deceased to use it for money ritual.”

    Seyi, 26, and Afeez, 26, were paraded for allegedly being members of a cult.

    Afeez confessed that he shot dead one Bode, adding:  “I also shot another person, but he did not die. The people I shot are members of Aye confraternity.

    “They had tried to kill me before I joined the cult. But God saved me. I made a mistake because I was supposed to forgive, but I did not forgive.”

    He confessed that he joined Eye confraternity in 2009 at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, where he studied Accountancy.

  • ‘Drug abuse, cultism can lure youths into crime’

    YOUTHS have been urged to shun drugs, and cultism to avoid being lured into crime.

    The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Iju Police Division, Gbadebo Faseki, a Superintendent of Police (SP), gave the advice at a lecture held by three groups at Ijaiye-Ifako Local Government Area Office, Lagos on how to tackle drug abuse and cultism in Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos.

    The groups are Nigeria Policing Programme (NPP), Community Safety Partnership (CSP), Iju and Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC).

    Faseki said those who take drugs were prone to being lured into crime. Specifically, he warned youths against making friends with drug addicts and cultists, saying: ‘’Those who commit crimes are liable to punishment. Don’t indulge yourself in drug abuse because through it you could be lured into crime. Run away from drug takers.’’

     Earlier, as part of the two-day event, the groups, led by the NPP Lagos Intervention Officer Mrs Ivy Basil-Ofili; a PCRC member, Jude Ndoh and CSP Chairman Sir Felix Usalo, kicked off a campaign from the Police Station near Iju Waterworks, marched through the Agege-Ishaga-Iju road and terminated it at the council Area office on Bola Ahmed Tinubu road.

    They explained that the event was aimed at reducing the menace of drug abuse cultism in the area, adding that the sensitisation has a key role to play on the issue in view of the forthcoming general elections.

    They were accompanied by pupils of Adeola Memorial College and Olu Abiodun High School, among other associations.

    The council Chairman Apostle Olorutoba Oke, whose local government partnered the groups, expressed satisfaction with the team for a good job. He emphasised the danger posed by drug abuse to the society.

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    He cited the late President Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Premier of Western Region Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who, as youths, travelled abroad to study and returned home with their degrees, without any problem.

    He told the youth that any one destined to great could have his life destroyed by drugs and that they should take Azikiwe and Awolowo as their role models.

    He said a drug addict would suffer from mental imbalance and would never be able to hold on to its own. ‘’I never went into drugs. That is why I can stand before you today,’’ he added.

    Oke urged the youth to run away from drugs. ‘’When you see drugs, run, run, run,’’ council chief counselled.

  • Eight YABATECH students arraigned for ‘cultism’

    Eight students of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, were yesterday arraigned at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for belonging to an unlawful society, Eiye Confraternity.

    The accused, who were allegedly arrested with charms, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, membership of a secret cult, and stealing.

    Police prosecutor Lucky Ihiehie said they committed the offences on September 21 at 10 pm at Yaba College of Technology.

    He said the accused stole N5,000 from another student.

    The complainant told the police at Sabo Station that he was on campus when the accused accosted him and snatched his phone, ATM card, and withdrew N5,000 from his account.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case was transferred to the Anti-cultism Unit, Gbagada, on September 25.

    The offences contravene sections 42 (a), 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinje granted them bail at N50,000 each with two sureties.

    She said the sureties must be employed with an evidence of tax payment.

    The case was adjourned till November 21 for hearing.

  • 30 paraded for ‘cultism, robbery’ in Ilorin

    The Kwara State Police Command yesterday paraded 30 persons for suspected robbery and cultism. Nineteen were paraded for robbery.

    Commissioner of Police Bolaji Fafowora said the suspects were arrested in the last two weeks after he resumed. They will be charged to court after investigation, he added.

    Items recovered from them include locally-made pistols, dane guns, locally cut-to-size pistols, battle axes, criminal charms, parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, transformer’s armoured cables, and two Bajaj motorcycles.

    Fafowora named some of their operation areas as Shao road, Alapata, Kangu-Olunlade, Fate, Water View, and Zango.

    A five-member syndicate, which allegedly defrauded six persons of about N4 million, were also paraded.

    According to Fafowora, the suspects specialised in deceiving innocent commuters with fake foreign currencies.

    “Their operational vehicle, a Mazda 323 (FUF 646 XA), painted in taxi colour, was also recovered,” he said.

    Abubakar Ibrahim of Zango area was also paraded for allegedly vandalising a transformer’s armoured cable on Adelodun road in Ilorin, on September 11.

    “The suspect and his cohorts were seen loading cables on their motorcycle and when policemen on patrol questioned them, they abandoned their loot and fled. They were pursued and Ibrahim was arrested.

    “The stolen cable was recovered and effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspects,” Fafowora added.

    The police in Sokoto State have arrested 15 persons for suspected kidnapping, rustling and robbery.

    The spokesman, Cordelia Nwawe, who addressed a news conference yesterday, said the suspects were arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy and kidnapping at Tulluwa, Rabah Local Government Area.

    She said: “The police arrested the suspects for alleged robbery and terrorising innocent citizens of Tabani and environs in Rabah council.

    “Two of the suspects from Tungan Dalo were arrested for alleged rustling.”

    Nwawe added that five others were arrested in Savaging Bum, Wurno council, for allegedly threatening their victims.

    She urged parents to monitor their wards and keep them away from danger.

  • Four remanded in Ekiti for ‘cultism’

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded four accused persons in prison for alleged cultism.

    They are: Omotoyinbo Opeyemi (21), Bamisaye Femi (27), Olugbemi Abiodun (25) and Abdulahi Sodiq (24).

    The defendants, of no specific addresses, are facing a charge of cultism.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Oriyomi Akinwale, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on September 20 at Ikole-Ekiti.

    He said the accused confessed that they are members of Eye Confraternity, a secret cult.

    Akinwale noted that the offence contravenes Section 4 (1) of Secret Cults, Laws of Ekiti State 2017.

    The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in prison pending legal advice from office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The court did not take the plea of the defendants.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Modupe Afeniforo, ordered the remand of the defendants in prison.

    She adjourned the matter till November 2 for mention.

     

  • Four remanded in Ekiti for alleged cultism

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded four accused persons in prison over alleged cultism.

    They include Omotoyinbo Opeyemi (21), Bamisaye Femi (27), Olugbemi Abiodun (25) and Abdulahi Sodiq (24).

    The defendants, whose addresses were unknown, are facing a charge of cultism.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Oriyomi Akinwale, told the Court that the defendants committed the offence on September 20 in Ikole-Ekiti.

    He said that the defendants had confessed that they were members of Eye Confraternity secret Cult.

    Read Also: ‘Cultist’ die in shootout with police

    Akinwale noted that the offence contravened Section 4 (1) of Secret Cults, Laws of Ekiti State 2017.

    The prosecutor urged the Court to remand the defendants in prison pending legal advice from office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The plea of the defendants were not taken.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Modupe Afeniforo, ordered the remand of the defendants in prison and adjourned the case until November 2 for mention.

  • OAU suspends six students for cultism

    The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, has suspended six students of the Institution for cultism.

    They are: Praise Onyekwusi (ASE/2014/218); Abiodun Ojo (MCB /2012/149); John Ude (ASE /2015/362); Tobi Oladoye (EGL/2014/383); Damilola Ayeyi (EGL/2016/075); and Jesulayomi Davis (EGL/2014/207).

    Their suspension follows investigation into a case of two students who were forcefully initiated into secret cults some months ago.

    When the university received report of the case on July 2, 2018, the security Unit was called to investigate after which 12 students were apprehended and handed over to the Nigeria Police, Osun State Command.

    A statement signed by the Registrar,  Mrs  Magaret Omosule, said the Police furnished the University with its findings on August 20, 2018, which noted that six of the students had admitted being members of proscribed groups, thus breaching their Matriculation Oath, Code of Conduct and other University regulations.

    The statement assured the students of security and urged them and other members of the university community to be vigilant and report suspicious activities the management.