The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultism

  • Ilorin elders decry rise in cultism

    Some elders from the Ilorin Emirate have decried the rising incidents of cultism and anti-social activities amongst youths in Ilorin and its environs.

    There are five local government areas that make up the emirate: Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Moro and Asa.

    The councils recently witnessed an upsurge in cultism activities,  predominantly among students and artisans like bricklayers, commercial motorcycle/tricycle operators, vulcanisers, panel beaters, mechanics and the likes, where many lives and property had been lost.

    A representative of the elders, who is also the coordinator of a youth welfare foundation, Engineer Kamil Dauda, called on parents, community leaders, law enforcement agents and governments in the state to join hand to curtail the development.

    Dauda, who bemoaned the attitude of some community leaders in the metropolis who allegedly mount pressure on law enforcement agencies for release of arrested cultists, urged them to desist.

    He said that such attitude of the influential people could encourage the menace in the society.

    The philanthropist, who said that habits like hemp smoking, illicit drug use and drug abuse among the youths had led to antisocial behaviour and criminal activities in the emirate, added that such act could tarnish image of the ancient town.

    Alhaji Dauda also charged patent medicine dealers who are in the habit of dispensing psychotropic, substances among other illicit drugs, to desist for societal well-being.

    He said that his foundation, had in the past 10 years, organised series of youth empowerment programmes, extramural classes, payment of school fees and award of scholarship to indigent students, adding that financial assistance had been provided widows and needy in the Ilorin metropolis. He also said that the foundation planned to organize student sensitisation programme and youth empowerment programme during end of year festive period in the emirate.

  • ‘I kidnap my girlfriend to raise money for wedding’

    ‘I kidnap my girlfriend to raise money for wedding’

    A-24 year old man, Micheal Duda, has said that he kidnapped his teenage girlfriend identified as Victory Aseguah with the intention of raising money for their wedding.

    Micheal was paraded alongside 104 suspects arrested for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, rape, armed robbery and cultism at the headquarters of the Edo Police Command.

    He said the girlfriend just finished secondary school and there was no way he could approached the parents that he want to marry their daughter.

    Speaking to newsmen Thursday, Micheal said he kept the girl in his house for four days and asked her father to pay him the sum of N2m.

    Micheal who said he sells dispensable cups admitted that he had sex with the girl all through the four days the girl spent in his house.

    “I live at Ekae community off Sapele road. She came to my house. We planned to collect money from her father to raise money for our marriage but I did not collect the money again. She stayed in my house for four days.

    “I couldn’t tell the father I want to marry his daughter. She said her father would not support the idea because she was yet to go to the university. She was with me for four days. The man said he has no money to pay. I was at home with the girl when police came and arrested me.”

    But Victory who was present at the parade said they met on facebook and after several days, she decided to visit him.

    Victory said she was surprised that the boy kidnapped her when she got there and heard that the boy demanded for N4m from her father.

    Elder sister of Victory, Rodha, said her sister was sexually abused before the police rescued her.

    On the alleged plans to get married, she laughed saying, “My sister is 16 years old and has never slept outside before. She told me they met on facebook and the boy professed love to her. When she went to the house, she said the boy hatched the plan and said he would collect N10,000 from our father but the boy demanded for N4m.

    “He will lock her inside the house and called us threatening that he will kill her if we did not pay. He took advantage of my sister’s condition.”

    “She told me the boy is 21 and a student but she later saw that it was a lie. We took her for treatment after the rescue.”

    Also, three suspects that allegedly killed Prof. Paul Otasowie of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in the University of Benin were paraded.

    Late Prof. Otasowie  was killed in October 4 at his residence at Evbuotubu area in Egor local government area.

    Names of the suspect were given as Osaze Oghogho, Best Ogumode and Happy Okoro.

    The suspects said they never intended to kill Prof. Otasowie but to collect his car and used it for armed robbery.

    They said he was mistakenly shot when he rushed at Osaze who was holding the gun.

    According to Osaze, “We decided to go for street robbery when we saw a vehicle driving out, so we decided to collect the car. I asked the man to give me the car keys but he threw the keys away. I shot into the air. As I was loading another bullet, the man embraced me and during the struggle, the gun exploded.”

    Speaking to newsmen, Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo , said the police suspects would soon be charged to court.

    He listed items recovered within three weeks included five AK 47 rifles, military weapons. 33 cut to size guns, motor-cycles, 90 live AK 47 ammunition, 234 live cartridges, assorted vehicles and the sum of N1.2m.

  • Hundreds renounce cultism, surrender arms at Ikorodu

    Hundreds renounce cultism, surrender arms at Ikorodu

    Hundreds of youths yesterday renounced their membership of cult groups and surrendered their arms and ammunition to the police.

    The repentant cultists between ages 17 and 35 said they had turned a new leaf and wanted peace and stability in Ikorodu.

    They were received by the Chairman, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Salisu Jimoh, who was commemorating his 100 days in office.

    The weapons including AK47 rifles, locally made guns, ammunition, cutlasses and axes were handed over to acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal.

    Edgal, who directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ijede to begin profiling them, said renunciation was the first step to their reintegration.

    Regretting his involvement in cult war, Olanrewaju Adesoye said he used to be a thug to notorious land grabbers, who masterminded various communal land disputes.

    He said: “I was the number one man of Eiye. Cultism started from power tussle over boundary. But the crisis that followed was not what we bargained for. My appreciation goes to the Local Government Chairman, who pioneered this move. We have made up our minds to denounce our membership for long but we were afraid of being arrested.”

    Another ex-cultist, Abdulrazeez Densi, who said he was the leader of KK cult group, said he used to live in fear and uncertainty.

    Densi said: “I decided to denounce my membership because of the safety of my life and those of members of my community. It was mainly because of the crisis that was brewing as a result of cult-related activities. I want peace to reign in my community.”

  • Six docked in Ekiti for alleged cultism

    Six docked in Ekiti for alleged cultism

    Six men on Tuesday appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for alleged involvement in cultism.

    Police Prosecutor Caleb Leranmo told the court that the defendants committed the offence at about 10am in Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    He gave the names of the defendants as Adewale Akosile, 30, Jimoh Lukman, 25, Amusa Jamiu, 25, Timothy Thomas, 23, Sefun Akinola, 26 and Ojo Akinola
    20.

    Leranmo said that the defendants, on the said date, unlawfully paraded themselves as a member of “Ashanti secret society” which they used to terrorise the community.

    According to him, the offence contravene Section 4(1) of the Secret Cult (Abolition and Prohibition) Laws of Ekiti State 2006.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty while their counsel, Mr Timilehin Omotoso prayed the court to grant bail to his clients, with a promise that they would not jump bail.

    Chief Magistrate Aderopo Adegboye consequently granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

    He adjourned the case to October 27 for further hearing.

  • Sustaining war on cultism in Imo

    SIR: The reported killing, on Thursday, October 5, of the two most wanted cult leaders and kidnappers in Imo State, Tochukwu Egbelu, aka black face, and Enyia Iwu, aka Sparrow, by the operatives deployed by the state police command to the Assa, Obile and Awarra communities of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area brought unspeakable joy and much needed relief to the traumatised villagers who have been under a siege for years now.

    According to reports in the media on Friday, October 6, the two suspected criminals, “leaders of the Iceland cult, which had been credited with the killing of over 20 people and the destruction of  over 30 houses”, were killed during a shootout in the Nwagbakobi forest in Assa community.

    The state police commissioner, Chris Ezike, deserves all the accolades because his determination to stamp out crime and criminality in the state has been yielding huge dividends in our communities.

    Following the success recorded so far in the fight against cultism, violent crimes and banditry in Assa, Obile and Awarra by the police personnel, civil life is gradually returning to communities that were hitherto deserted following an orgy of killings and destruction of property by rival cult groups that held the communities hostage for years. Markets, schools and churches that were closed for a long time are being reopened.

    However, CP Ezike and his men should not rest on their oars until all the suspected criminals arrested so far by the various security agencies, according to media reports, in connection with cult activities in the area are properly investigated and made to face the full wrath of the law so as to serve as a deterrent to other deviant elements in the communities. In particular, the 35 suspected kidnappers, cultists and criminals handed over to them by the operatives of the Operation Python Dance 2 on Wednesday, October 11, should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted where found culpable.

    Besides, the police should not succumb to any pressure of any kind or campaign of calumny from any quarters but should take the fight to its logical conclusion. We cannot afford another round of the heinous reign of cultists in our communities.

     

    • Emenike Uzomba,

    Ohaji, Imo State.

  • Monarch petitions chairmanship candidate over ‘kidnap, cultism, assassination attempts’

    Monarch petitions chairmanship candidate over ‘kidnap, cultism, assassination attempts’

    The village head-elect of Ikot okwo village in Ukpum Ete clan in Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Chief Solomon David Jesse has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate in Ikot Abasi, Mr. David David Eshiet of sponsoring a cult group to kidnap, assassinate and destroy his palace.

    In a petition by his legal counsel, Edet Essien and Associate, No. 62 Enwe Street Uyo, the traditional alleged that the PDP chairmanship candidate, sponsored Uwem Udo Green, Eric Udo Ebong, Ndifereke Ufor Tom, Eno Udo John, Akpan L. Akpan, Ubong Eshiet Ebong and Others, to kill him and destroy his palace on the 9th June, 2017.

    The monarch said the incident occurred after he was presented to the Clan Head of Ukpum Ete, HRH (Barr.) Clement Idemudo, by the family heads that make up the village.

    Chief Jesse said that but for his timely escape into the nearby bush through the backdoor, he would have been killed by the suspected cultists allegedly sponsored by Mr. Eshiet to assassinate him

    According to the petition made available to our correspondent in Uyo, the suspected cultists destroyed his cars, motorcycle, and other

    valuable properties at his palace valued at one hundred million naira.

    He said the bandits were armed with guns, machetes, axes and other dangerous weapons, adding that they rained bullets on the palace.

  • Increasing trends of cultism among young people

    Increasing trends of cultism among young people

    Generally, humans are referred to as ‘social animals’; please don’t feel offended already…it is only a notion to explain our dear and perpetual need for interaction and formation of identity.

    From time immemorial, our species have always longed to be part of a group or movement that not only matter in the scheme of things, but that has enough influence to navigate and ensure our individual survival and long or short term aspirations.

    However, the ideas of ‘collectivism’ and ‘group identity’ have been froth with a lot of vices, immoral and unethical excesses by those who belong to some of the groups.

    The emerging trend of cult groups amongst young people, especially within the four walls of an educational institution is alarming.

    Although, it is rampant in higher institutions across the world and has become a permanent feature in Nigerian campuses, however, tertiary institutions are not alone in the ‘unholy’ association; the rate at which secondary school students are getting involved in cultism is increasing at an alarm rate.

    It is a truism that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow but of now, however, the troubling question is – How did these leaders get involved in this unholy unison?

    Paul Omo obadan reports that if something is not done promptly to check the trend, the society stands the risk of being saddled with the burden of a substantial dysfunctional youth population.

    In schools noted for cultism, teachers come under frequent threats. This leads to a decline in the school general academic calendar.

    A good number of cultists have been accused of robbery, rape, harassment and intimidation of teachers (to mention but a few). Some have also been used by politicians to cause crisis in a bid to achieve their selfish game.

    Come to think of it, how do teenagers between the ages 13-17 even have the courage to join or form cult group?

    It’s Simple, they have seen people around them do it and are influenced, probably because they have a huge physique or out of sheer desire to feel among and impress their peers.

    One can only wonder what a student who threatens to kill his or her teacher in secondary school will do when he or she eventually gets into institutions of higher learning.

    Recently, social media was agog with the viral video of an 11-year-old cultist notoriously known as ‘SHANAWOLE’.

    Check out this video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgQRmHxP5Q

    If not for the timely intervention of popular pastor – Tony Rapu, Shanawole was a tsunami waiting to happen. His nuisance value to the society had literally overshot the boundaries of international billboards and charts.

    He was a member of the eiye confranternity and a drug addict, especially to marijuana, skunk and other related street drugs. According to him, if anyone offends him or his group, his primary responsibility is to kill the person. So shocking right??? That is an 11 year-old-boy!

    From Ijora Badia, Apapa Iganmu to railway line in bariga, Kadin in Fadeyi to Shipeolu in Shomolu, all in Lagos, residents live in fear as these gangs walk freely in broad day light with different weapons like knives, machete and gun as being used by the now dreaded badoo cult that is terrorising ikorodu in Lagos.

    Who can then be blamed for these?

    Well, this is not the time to engage in the luxury of cooling off, or to take the tranquilising drug of gradualism. This is the time for all stakeholders – Parents, Teachers/Schools, Religious Institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations ( NGOs ) and our honourable legislators in the hallowed chamber to collaborate to end the embarrassing menace of cultism in our society.

    Everyone has a role to play in making the future better; if something is not done soon to check cultism in schools and on the streets, then we all would be condemned to an insecurity society.

  • Six in court for ‘cultism’ in Ekiti

    Six in court for ‘cultism’ in Ekiti

    Six men have appeared at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ekiti State, for allegedly involving in cultism.

    Police prosecutor Caleb Leranmo told the court that the defendants committed the offence, about 10 am., at Omuo-Ekiti in Omuo Local Government.

    He said the defendants were Adewale Akosile, 30, Jimoh Lukman, 25, Amusa Jamiu, 25, Timothy Thomas, 23, Segun Akinola, 26 and Ojo Akinola, 20.

    Leranmo said the defendants paraded themselves as members of “Ashanti Secret Society”, which terrorise the community.

    He said the offence contravened Section 4 (1) of the Secret Cult (Abolition and Prohibition) Laws of Ekiti State 2006.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Their counsel, Mr. Timilehin Omotosho, prayed the court to grant them bail, promising that they will not jump bail.

    The Chief Magistrate, Aderopo Adegboye, granted bail to the defendants at N200,000 and two sureties.

    He adjourned the case till October 27 for further hearing.

     

  • 12 pupils arraigned for alleged cultism

    The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, yesterday arraigned 12 pupils of Oduduwa Junior Secondary School, Mushin, Lagos Mainland before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly belonging to a cult.

    The minors were arraigned before Mrs B. O. Osunsanmi on a three-count charge of conspiracy and membership of Gangsters Confraternity, an unlawful society.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Simeon Imohnwa told the court that the pupils committed the offence on September 15 around 12:30pm.

    Imohnwa said a member of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LSNC), Mushin, Jacob Adedeji, reported to the police that he saw the defendants displaying knives and two cutlasses on their way to attack some pupils of Igbo-Owu Secondary School, Mushin.

    According to him, the defendants confessed that they belonged to Gangsters Confraternity.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The defendants’ counsel, led by Mr C. C. Igwe, asked for their bail in liberal terms, pointing out that they were all minors.

    Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi agreed, and granted each defendant N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum, one of whom must be a relative and be gainfully employed.

    She ruled that the defendants should be remanded at the Borstal Training Institution for minors at Adigbe, Abeokuta, pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.

    The case continues on October 25.

  • 12 pupils arraigned for cultism

    12 pupils arraigned for cultism

    The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday brought 12 students of Oduduwa Junior Secondary School, Mushin, before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court, for alleged cultism

    They are – Vincent Ukuade (17), Shuaib Dosumu (17), Muiz Alawok (17), Lateef Popoola (17), Akisu Ayinde (17), Solomon Agidotan (17), Afalobi Omotoyosi (16), Segun Folorunsho (16), Nurudeen Okeowo (17), Taiwo John (17), Victoria Afolabi (15) and Kusoro Oluwdamilare (17).

    The defendants were arraigned before Mrs. B. O. Osunsanmi on a three-count charge of conspiracy and membership of Gangsters’ Confraternity, an unlawful society.

    Prosecuting police officer, ASP Simeon Imohnwa, told the court that the pupils committed the offence at 12:30 p.m. on September 15.

    Imohnwa said a member of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LSNC), Mushin, Jacob Adedeji, reported to the police that he saw the defendants displaying knives and two cutlasses on their way to attack some pupils of Igbo-Owu Secondary School, Mushin.

    According to him, the defendants confessed that they belonged to Gangsters’ Confraternity.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections, 42, 51 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and punishable under same.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The defendants’ counsel, led by Mr. C. C. Igwe, asked for their bail in liberal terms, pointing out that they were all minors.

    Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi agreed and granted each defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    “One of the sureties must be a relation and gainfully employed,” the Chief Magistrate ruled.

    She said the defendants should be remanded at the Borstal Training Institution for minors at Adigbe, Abeokuta, pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.

    The case continues on October 25.