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Tag: cultist

  • ROW over alleged death in custody of 37-yr-old accused of being a cultist

    ROW over alleged death in custody of 37-yr-old accused of being a cultist

    FOR 69-year-old Musibau Abudu and his family, the phrase “police is your friend” is nothing but an irony. They have seen nothing but the bitter side of that arm of government, whose duty is the protection of lives, properties and the maintenence of law and order. Abudu has for the past 15 months been without his 37-yearold son, Akeem Alakan Abudu, who was arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) at Ikorodu, Lagos moved to the command headquarters in Ikeja where he allegedly died in controversial circumstance.

    His plight was worsened by the fact that police authorities till date have neither told him what happened to his son nor handed over his remains for interment. At his Imota-Ikorodu residence, Abudu, who told The Nation he had handed over the matter to God, said his family has not been the same since September 19, last year. He said he wakes up each day confused and helpless, especially because he still cannot understand why the police would kill and then hide his son’s body. Abudu said: “This whole issue is still like a dream to me. My son lived with his wife and four children not too far from my house. That morning (September 19), he came to my house to see us and then he said he wanted to also see some of his friends, who were at a gas station. “That was where some SARS men, who came in a van, saw them.

    That was where he was arrested. I went there to find out what happened and they told me that the SARS people came in a vehicle and Akeem, who knew one of them, went to greet him. “After they had greeted, the people at the gas station said the SARS people told Akeem to enter the vehicle, that someone inside the vehicle identified him as one of the leaders of cultists. “That was the last time anyone saw him. We went to Imota police station to look for him; they told us that they took him to SARS Ikeja. I went to Ikeja with my son, Obama, but the police people initially denied that he was in their custody. “They first told us that there was no one like that in their cell.

    Then, later they said they would not allow us to see him, that he was under investigation. I asked what he did but they did not tell me anything. “But while there, some youths they also arrested at Imota, who were inside the cell, told us that the SARS people shot Akeem and that he was in the hospital. I asked the police but they denied it. “So, I called Akeem’s boss, Chief Kaka Benson, and he advised that I should get a lawyer. He said if they refused me from seeing my son, they cannot refuse a lawyer. We got a lawyer, Olufemi Oladunni, and he went to SARS and demanded to see Akeem. “We wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police demanding to see Akeem but they did not show us my son. We kept going but no result. The lawyer started making more financial demands from me. He said we should sue the police to court and asked for a huge amount of money for the case. Since I did not have the money, I told him to forget about the court case.

    “That is how it has been since then. The police till date have not said anything to me. But my son, Obama, later got to know through an unnamed policeman that Akeem was tortured to death.” Although the police were yet to inform the family the reason Akeem was arrested, the family believed that his arrest might not be unconnected with a land dispute between a traditional ruler and Chief Benson. Although the police had told Obama that a locally made gun was found in his brother’s possession, none of the family members was shown the weapon. Obama said: “I was the closest to my brother and I was the one who knew about the land issue.

    The thing is that Chief Benson and the Oba were dragging a vast land in Imota. Chief Kaka is into real estate. They went to court and he won the other side. “My brother worked for him. When he was travelling, he put my brother in charge of the land. My brother usually went there every day to be sure there were no trespassers on the property. “So, that Oba was not happy. He felt that my brother was taking sides with Chief Benson, a non-indigene. He was the one who arranged to kill my brother. “One of the policemen who took part in it opened up to me and told me that they were paid to eliminate my brother. It was the policeman who sent me the pictures of my brother’s body and told me that he died in their custody. “Initially, he lied that my brother slumped and died the day he was arrested but after some time, he opened up and told me that he was tortured to death. Even from the pictures he sent, bruises were still obvious on my brother’s body.

    “There was plaster on his leg and his forehead. His arms were bruised. I had to tip the policeman and he confessed that Akeem was tortured to death. I asked where the body was so that we can go and carry it. He said General Hospital, Ikeja, but I went there and did not see my brother. We went to the mortuary but still did not find him. “Let SARS tell the world where my brother is. They claimed he was a cultist but that is a big lie. My brother is no longer a kid. He was 37 years old. Assuming he was a cultist as they claimed, did that give them the right to kill him? “Go to Imota and find out yourself. Ask anyone around my house if my brother was troublesome. You will hear things for yourself. They are just lying against him. My brother was a ‘born again’ Christian and very easy going.

    “I know that when he was in school, LASPOTECH, he moved with bad boys and got into trouble. That was in 2004. After that time, he stayed away from them and gave his life to Christ. Since 2005, my brother had been a God fearing Christian and he didn’t like trouble.’’ Obama said policemen had been threatening him over the matter, warning him to avoid speaking with our correspondent. He said: “Those SARS men have been threatening me. They contacted me and warned me that I should not give you my number and I should stop talking to you.

    They said I should not give you any information. They think I am a fool. I am not scared of them and I will not keep quiet. Let them provide my brother or his corpse. Let them say why they killed him.” The lawyer, Oladunni, who had since relocated to the United States of America (USA), was contacted and he confirmed that a petition was written. He said: “I was briefed by Obama and I took the necessary steps. We went to SARS Ikeja and they confirmed Alakan was in their custody. “They prevented us from seeing him at that time. I immediately wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police demanding that the matter be taken to court. Later, they disclosed to us that Alakan died the day he was arrested. “We demanded for autopsy and for the release of his body but they insisted they were conducting their own autopsy and that when they were done with theirs,

  • ‘My life as a cultist’

    It was neither a fiction, nor hearsay, but a true account of the author’s foray into the dark world of cultism as an undergraduate, and the sheer vanity that climaxed his escapades and nearly despatched him to the great beyond.

    Yet, it is an account of how unsuspecting youths who gained admission to the nation’s tertiary institutions were lured with promises that seemed too tantalising to resist; but turned out to be a death sentence in the end.

    Adebayo Olurin is the author of the yet-to-be-launched book ‘I am not a cultist: Not everybody gets a second chance’, which chronicles his life as a notorious cult member who dominated his ‘territory’ with ease and ‘deleted’ those who could not genuflect or kowtow to his authority.

    Going down memory lane, the author recalls how indifference on the part of his parents led to their misconception about his true identity. He therefore warns parents to always pay attention to their children’s future as they grow, to identify their character traits.

    “If I would be honest,” Olurin begins, !i was desperately in love with power; it was this quest that made me crave power for control of everything around me. I must admit I always wanted the world to revolve around me – my comfort, pleasure and convenience. I desired that others see and interpret everything through my eyes, make me happy, meet my needs, and refrain from offending, upsetting or irritating me. I wanted to be understood, acknowledged, appreciated, praised, valued, attended to, catered for, respected admired and listened to. I love to be in absolute control.”

    And when he eventually secured admission into the polytechnic, the author began to look for individuals that would help fulfill his long-time cravings; he soon found them. His life in their company was rosy, but for a short while; until he was one day tricked, alongside other unsuspecting students, into joining a social club. They were then ferried into a jungle where they were initiated into cultism.

    However, he and others soon realised the anticipated life of bliss once dangled before them had melted into a life of discomfort. Their lives were remotely controlled by ‘superior’ colleagues; and the ‘lower ranked’ have little chances of protesting because the system is simply autocratic.

    “For instance,’’ the author says, “the superior can order a member not to appear on campus for the next one week. Such one would suddenly be given a mission to keep him busy outside campus. That could make someone fail a course. The superior can collect a junior member’s belongings for more than a semester and may not even return them. In other cases, if the member is the brilliant type, he could be asked to write exam for the superior leaving his own studies unattended to.”

    Olurin says parameters for being lured into cultism are anchored on a tripod – physical, financial, and intellectual ‘ruggedity’. Ruggedity, Olurin explains, simply means capability; noting that physical ruggedity translates to muscular or well-built individuals  who can be trusted to lead an onslaught against perceived individual or rival groups on or beyond campus. Financial ruggedity involved those with rich parental background whose resources are often deployed  to oil the group’s operations either through procurement of weapons, or providing funds for logistics in the event of an attack against rival groups or bribing security officials to get their arrested members off the hook should problem arise. Intellectually ruggedity are the eggheads who impersonate for other members during examination.

    But, generally, students who are curious about excessive or extravagant life of certain individuals on campus or rather those who simply want to ‘belong’ by associating themselves with these high spenders, are also easy targets as their curiosity lead them to what they never planned for.

    The book also highlights the organogram in cultism. A unit is charged with recruiting new members. There is another department which disseminates information to members; and still the account unit collects members’ dues and levies; the security unit spearheads attacks; it has  a sub-unit which takes care of weaponry; and another- a search unit’ usually scans new grounds for conducting initiation rituals for new entreants, to mention just a few.

    The book portrays some of the cult members, equipping themselves with ‘juju’ for spiritual protection which often makes them over confident and indulging them in more atrocities.  However, the juju sometimes boomerangs in the heat of operation, leaving the wearer with little or no chance of survival.

    Olurin warns young ladies on campus who are easily attracted to young but rich and influential males that appear to have whatever they want at the tip of their fingernails. Once a lady finds two male undergraduates threatening brims and fire against each other because of her, then its time she runs off, the author advises.

    Some cult groups also court the friendship of prominent unions and individuals across academic and non academic staff who are close to the management, and therefore can use their influence to tilt judgment in their favour whenever the need arises.

    Even though he admonishes lecturers and other senior workers to be sociable to students, Olurin warns them to desist from any secret affair or undue familiarity with them. Rather, they should be in inspiration leading students aright and pointing to them the risk involved in associating with bad company.

    During his visit at The Nation’s corporate headquarters in Mushin, Lagos, Olurin, now a social crusader, said beyond the Pyrate Confraternity, which was established in University of Ibadan in 1952, with noble goals to fight colonialism and push for equal society, there is proliferation of various anti-social groups on campus laying claim to similar goals. He listed these as: Sea Lords or Buka; Air Lords or Supreme Eiye Confraternity; Neo Black Movement a.k.a Aiye; Klu Klux Klan (KKK), Mafia, among others.

    Once a cult member, forever a member, and the reality of sudden death is just a matter of time, Olurin explains.

    He says there are some cultists who manage to survive the stormy ambience of campus cultism, only to pay the ‘supreme price’ years after they have graduated.

    According to him, some met their waterloo from rival gangs on their wedding  day or birthday, while others get killed during family vacation or old friends party.

    Recounting the inspiration behind the book, Olurin said: “This book aims to correct a very wrong notion for joining cult groups in our campuses today. With hundreds of promising individuals already killed across different campuses due to cult activities and even more thousands losing the essence of a hopeful future. A craving for power should never go overboard into ruin and damage to others and oneself. The desire for attention and control shouldn’t lead many more students to engage in vicious and destructive vice,”

    …And then “I’m not a cultist’ was born.

  • ‘My life as a cultist’

    ‘My life as a cultist’

    It was neither a fiction, nor hearsay, but a true account of the author’s foray into the dark world of cultism as an undergraduate, and the sheer vanity that climaxed his escapades and nearly despatched him to the great beyond.

    Yet, it is an account of how unsuspecting youths who gained admission to the nation’s tertiary institutions were lured with promises that seemed too tantalising to resist; but turned out to be a death sentence in the end.

    Adebayo Olurin is the author of the yet-to-be-launched book ‘I am not a cultist: Not everybody gets a second chance’, which chronicles his life as a notorious cult member who dominated his ‘territory’ with ease and ‘deleted’ those who could not genuflect or kowtow to his authority.

    Going down memory lane, the author recalls how indifference on the part of his parents led to their misconception about his true identity. He therefore warns parents to always pay attention to their children’s future as they grow, to identify their character traits.

    “If I would be honest,” Olurin begins, !i was desperately in love with power; it was this quest that made me crave power for control of everything around me. I must admit I always wanted the world to revolve around me – my comfort, pleasure and convenience. I desired that others see and interpret everything through my eyes, make me happy, meet my needs, and refrain from offending, upsetting or irritating me. I wanted to be understood, acknowledged, appreciated, praised, valued, attended to, catered for, respected admired and listened to. I love to be in absolute control.”

    And when he eventually secured admission into the polytechnic, the author began to look for individuals that would help fulfill his long-time cravings; he soon found them. His life in their company was rosy, but for a short while; until he was one day tricked, alongside other unsuspecting students, into joining a social club. They were then ferried into a jungle where they were initiated into cultism.

    However, he and others soon realised the anticipated life of bliss once dangled before them had melted into a life of discomfort. Their lives were remotely controlled by ‘superior’ colleagues; and the ‘lower ranked’ have little chances of protesting because the system is simply autocratic.

    “For instance,’’ the author says, “the superior can order a member not to appear on campus for the next one week. Such one would suddenly be given a mission to keep him busy outside campus. That could make someone fail a course. The superior can collect a junior member’s belongings for more than a semester and may not even return them. In other cases, if the member is the brilliant type, he could be asked to write exam for the superior leaving his own studies unattended to.”

    Olurin says parameters for being lured into cultism are anchored on a tripod – physical, financial, and intellectual ‘ruggedity’. Ruggedity, Olurin explains, simply means capability; noting that physical ruggedity translates to muscular or well-built individuals  who can be trusted to lead an onslaught against perceived individual or rival groups on or beyond campus. Financial ruggedity involved those with rich parental background whose resources are often deployed  to oil the group’s operations either through procurement of weapons, or providing funds for logistics in the event of an attack against rival groups or bribing security officials to get their arrested members off the hook should problem arise. Intellectually ruggedity are the eggheads who impersonate for other members during examination.

    But, generally, students who are curious about excessive or extravagant life of certain individuals on campus or rather those who simply want to ‘belong’ by associating themselves with these high spenders, are also easy targets as their curiosity lead them to what they never planned for.

    The book also highlights the organogram in cultism. A unit is charged with recruiting new members. There is another department which disseminates information to members; and still the account unit collects members’ dues and levies; the security unit spearheads attacks; it has  a sub-unit which takes care of weaponry; and another- a search unit’ usually scans new grounds for conducting initiation rituals for new entreants, to mention just a few.

    The book portrays some of the cult members, equipping themselves with ‘juju’ for spiritual protection which often makes them over confident and indulging them in more atrocities.  However, the juju sometimes boomerangs in the heat of operation, leaving the wearer with little or no chance of survival.

    Olurin warns young ladies on campus who are easily attracted to young but rich and influential males that appear to have whatever they want at the tip of their fingernails. Once a lady finds two male undergraduates threatening brims and fire against each other because of her, then its time she runs off, the author advises.

    Some cult groups also court the friendship of prominent unions and individuals across academic and non academic staff who are close to the management, and therefore can use their influence to tilt judgment in their favour whenever the need arises.

    Even though he admonishes lecturers and other senior workers to be sociable to students, Olurin warns them to desist from any secret affair or undue familiarity with them. Rather, they should be in inspiration leading students aright and pointing to them the risk involved in associating with bad company.

    During his visit at The Nation’s corporate headquarters in Mushin, Lagos, Olurin, now a social crusader, said beyond the Pyrate Confraternity, which was established in University of Ibadan in 1952, with noble goals to fight colonialism and push for equal society, there is proliferation of various anti-social groups on campus laying claim to similar goals. He listed these as: Sea Lords or Buka; Air Lords or Supreme Eiye Confraternity; Neo Black Movement a.k.a Aiye; Klu Klux Klan (KKK), Mafia, among others.

    Once a cult member, forever a member, and the reality of sudden death is just a matter of time, Olurin explains.

    He says there are some cultists who manage to survive the stormy ambience of campus cultism, only to pay the ‘supreme price’ years after they have graduated.

    According to him, some met their waterloo from rival gangs on their wedding  day or birthday, while others get killed during family vacation or old friends party.

    Recounting the inspiration behind the book, Olurin said: “This book aims to correct a very wrong notion for joining cult groups in our campuses today. With hundreds of promising individuals already killed across different campuses due to cult activities and even more thousands losing the essence of a hopeful future. A craving for power should never go overboard into ruin and damage to others and oneself. The desire for attention and control shouldn’t lead many more students to engage in vicious and destructive vice,”

    …And then “I’m not a cultist’ was born.

  • Bullets can’t pierce my body, says suspected cultist

    Bullets can’t pierce my body, says suspected cultist

    A suspected cult leader arrested by the police last Friday has claimed that he is immune from gunshot.

    No bullet, claimed Andrew Awalebi, who belonged to Eiye Confraternity, “can pierce my body”.

    He was nabbed at a beer parlour with three others around 8am by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives at Jakande Estate in Ajah, Lagos.

    The others are a 17-year-old boy; Daniel Olayiwola, 36 and Tosin Issac, 26.

    A statement yesterday by the RRS said two other members of the group, Adegoke Adeleke, 30 and Kehinde Adebogun, 31, were picked up on Saturday morning at an hotel in Ikorodu.

    A fellow cult member, Michael Thompson, squealed on Awalebi, who is from Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. Thompson was arrested on Thursday for alleged robbery at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

    Awalebi, who claimed that he worked with a popular land owner in Lekki, said he earns N40,000 monthly for protecting the property.

    He told the RRS that the protective charm against bullets was prepared for him by an herbalist in Ijebu-Isiwo in Ogun State.

    The RRS quoted him as saying: “I was initiated into Eiye Confraternity in 1996 by Banji Omisore and later in 1997 I was promoted as its topmost leader after the death of Omisore.

    “We are an eight-member cult group. We meet very early in the morning or late at night. I was arrested by the Special Anti–Robbery Squad (SARS) sometime ago when my cult group caused mayhem in Jakande Estate, inflicting injuries on passers-by in the area.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), urged parents to monitor their children, saying: “Charity begins at home. Parents should help police to tackle cultism in their respective localities. They should endeavour to report to the nearest police station around them if they suspect their children’s movement. This will help the police to nip cultism in the bud”.

  • Teenage ‘cultists’ arrested for theft

    Teenage ‘cultists’ arrested for theft

    Operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Sunday nabbed a 13-year-old suspected member of the notorious Awawa cult group for robbery.
    The teenager, Opeyemi Johnson, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) student, was arrested around Fagba in Agege on Sunday morning after he, alongside 20 others dispossessed road users of their belongings.
    It was learnt that the suspect and his gang members were returning from a street carnival before they started terrorising passerbys, snatching their bags, phones and other valuables.
    While the other gang members fled, RRS men on patrol caught Opeyemi who later led the police to arrest another suspect, Mohammed Korede, 19.
    Confessing to the crime, the teenager said their leader, a certain ‘Ijaomode’ ordered them to rob anyone they saw on the road from the carnival.
    “I followed my cult members to carnival at Power Line, Agbado Crossing. On our way home, our Capol, nicknamed ‘Ijaomode’ instructed us to start robbing anybody we meet on our way.
    “We robbed not less than 10 people before we got to Fagba Junction. At this point, we saw a young girl, (Naisha Akiomon) and immediately surrounded and collected all her belongings including phones and jewelry. She later went to bring RRS men who chased us and arrested me while my colleagues managed to escape,” he said.
    The suspect who claimed he was raised by his mother and never knew his father disclosed that he was only told that his dad was a Congolese, adding that he once travelled to Congo alone to see his father but was told he had travelled.
    Asked how he joined the cult, Opeyemi said he was forced into the group by one brother Ola last year.
    “I was initiated into the group about a year ago. It was one brother whom I only know as Ola that introduced and forced me to join the group.
    “It was on a Sunday evening at Abattoir, Agege. Ola took me to one dark room and ordered me to kneel down. In that room, I met six other members already waiting for my arrival.
    “The cult leader, ‘Ijaomode’ blindfolded me with black clothe and all the six members descended on me. They gave me a thorough beating.
    “After a while, they stopped. They gave me alligator pepper to chew and also an alcoholic drink to gulp it down. One of them stood up and he drew tattoo on my forehead and below my eyes as sign of being a bonafide member of the group. “Since that time, I have been going out with them for operations. I stopped going back home. I used to sleep in a shanty plank room at Abattoir.
    “Initially, I did not know it would turn out to be this. Immediately I saw their way of life, I wanted to quit but they threatened to kill me if I dared,” said Opeyemi.
    But his mother who seemed disappointed at the teenager’s behaviour said she has always tried to give him and his siblings her best.
    She explained that she enrolled him into a private school at Sango Ota just to ensure he did not go astray, wondering how he ended up at Abbatoir.
    “He is my third child. Though I had remarried but that doesn’t stop me from playing my motherly roles on him. His two older siblings are in higher institutions.
    “I have tried enough to ensure that he doesn’t go astray. I enrolled him in a private school at Sango. I wonder how he got to Abbatoir, Agege. I gave him and his siblings all my best,” she said.
    Reliving her ordeal, Akiomon said that she was on her way to Lagos Island around 4am when about 15 armed boys surrounded her and collected her N58,000, three ATM cards, Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), phones, among others.
    “I had to run to the other side of the road to shout for help. Fortunately, I saw RRS operatives patrolling and I explained everything to them.
    “They followed me to the crime scene but immediately the thieves saw us coming, they started running. The Police chased them and arrested one of them,” she stated.
    When contacted, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) confirmed the arrest, adding that the two suspects have been transferred to Gender Department of the police command for necessary actions.

  • RRS arrest 46 suspected cultists in Lagos

    RRS arrest 46 suspected cultists in Lagos

    The Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) over the weekend arrested no fewer than 46 suspected members of the Awawa confraternity including six women.
    Members of the Awawa cult group have reportedly held Agege and its environs hostage for some months now, robbing and raping their victims.
    The cultists, who are identified by similar tattoo symbols beside their eyes, on their backs and hands, usually moved in scores to unleash terror on their victims.
    It was gathered that the suspects were nabbed on Saturday morning, during a three-hour operation led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)Timothy Ojetunde.
    Operatives were said to have responded swiftly to a tip-off from two victims who were dispossessed of their valuables in Agidingbi towards Omole and Akilo Roads.
    The operation was said to have been triggered by complaints from residents on the activities of the hoodlums around Agege, Ogba and Agidingbi, Ifako Ijaiye, Iyana Ipaja and Abule Egba.
    It was gathered that the suspects who attempted to resist arrest by pelting security agents with stones, threatened to make life unbearable for the policemen.
    According to a police source: “Apart from incessant complaints from the residents which we received on daily basis in our office alleging that some group of young boys and girls with ages ranging between 15 and 22 years, were making lives difficult for residents and disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in Agege and its environs, they equally raped, looted, snatched and dispossessed law-abiding citizens of their belongings.
    “During their recent attack along Agindigbi Road, we were able to arrest 46 of them including 6 female while others manage to escape.
    “Having studied their black spots and based camps around Agege and its environs, and several petitions received by the policemen from the residents of the area, we carried out a special operation on the areas identified as their hideouts.
    “Before we could make arrest these suspects, they engaged us in a fight, stoning us with pebbles and broken bottles but our men remained unshaken.
    “On arrival at the RRS Headquarters in Alausa, the suspects were still threatening to make life unbearable for policemen, shouting vociferously that no one can arrest them and go scot free.
    “They still have the guts to be threatening us that if we don’t let them go, their colleagues who are yet to be arrested, would besiege our base the following day and set them free. But we are more than ready for them.”
    One of the suspects, Arowoseni who confessed to being a member said he was forced into the group.
    “I was forced to join them on the account that I would be very powerful among my peers. They promised me that I would have free access to girls who are members of the group. One thing is certain, once you join the group, it would be very difficult to dissociate yourself again.
    “And you must also be part of their proceedings and operations anytime they are set to go out. We loot, rape and rob innocent members of the public everytime we were at operation. We don’t fear anybody even police because we are always in hundreds.”
    Confirming the arrest, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police said that Awawa cult group is a violent group whose activities are under the close watch of the police.
    “We are after them. Their financiers and leaders are our targets, with those in our dragnet, the tide is against them,” she said

  • Suspected cultist found dead

    A 25-year-old man identified as Daniel was yesterday found dead near the Ikota Market, Ogombo, Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area in Lagos.

    The deceased, a suspected cultist popularly known as Young T, was discovered at about 9am with violent marks on his leg.

    Police sources said the deceased who had “Gang Star” tattoo on his right hand may have been beaten by his assailants before he was killed.

    Confirming the death, police spokesman Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Lagos.

    Offor said the body had been deposited at a government hospital for autopsy.

     

  • RRS arrest 31 suspected cult members in Lagos

    Personnel of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested 31 suspected members of the Awawa cult group.
    The suspects were arrested in the Agege area of the state following the unleashing of terror on innocent residents by the gang.
    ‎It was gathered that the hoodlums were nabbed at Talisco Hotel along Dopemu road; Bakare Ipiasha Street; Ile-Zik and Mangoro, all within Agege.
    ‎The Nation gathered that the RRS team followed a tip-off from a radio programme, which reported how the cultists were making lives uneasy for residents.
    Confirming the arrest, the RRS Commander, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) said those arrested included four under-aged.
    He said the under-aged were released after thorough interrogation on their mission at the point of arrest with the notorious group, adding that the remaining 27 would be charged to court.
    Disu said: “Upon intelligence report received through the popular Yoruba programme, which was further confirmed and authenticated by notable individuals living within the area, our men immediately bursted the areas mentioned on the programme and its environs with 15 RRS patrol vans.
    “31 suspects were apprehended including 4 under aged while others are still at large.
    “On arrival at the Task Force office, the under-aged gave satisfactory account of themselves and were released.”
    He warned parents and guardians to be watchful of their wards’ behaviours while they are still young, reiterating the commitment of the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni to free Lagos of criminals and miscreants.

  • Ondo Police kills cultist, arrest two others

    Ondo Police kills cultist, arrest two others

    The Ondo State Police Command Wednesday said it had killed one notorious cult member while two others were arrested during an early morning operations of its men in Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

    According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Wole Ogodo, they met their waterloo when the deceased identified as Seun and others dared the officers of the Special Anti- Cultism Squad (SAS) and shot sporadically at them.

    Ogodo said: “what transpired today (Wednesday) was that one of them was arrested and taken to Akure for investigation and he led them back to Igbokoda in Seun’s house. When the operation led by ASP Raimi Seidu knocked his door, his wife came out and policemen said they came for investigation.

    “He (Seun) ran through the back door and took his AK 49 rifle with double magazine and started shooting at the police and in self defence, they shot him dead.

    “We have been saying this that Ondo state is not where criminals can operate, it is better for them to have a rethink or continue to meet their waterloo.”

    He therefore warned parents to take care of their wards so as not be used as  political thugs to cause crisis in the state as we approach the forthcoming general election, saying anybody caught, will face the wrought of law.

    The police spokesman urged the general public to feel free to give out useful information to the police, promising that such information will be treated highly confidential.

    Among items recovered from them were, one unregistered Primera car, 46 inches plasma television, one motorcycle, standing fan, 6 mobile phone and one AK49 rifle.

  • Crisis: UNIBEN suspends exam

    Crisis: UNIBEN suspends exam

    The management of University of Benin (UNIBEN) has temporarily shot down all academic activities in the school due to a clash between suspected cultist groups and indigenes of Ekosodin community in Benin, the Edo state capital.

    According to a source who simply identified herself as Faith, the brawl started at about 7:45pm on Thursday when cultists stormed students’ hostel at Ekosodin community with different harmful weapons, ranging from axes to guns of different brands, demanding for students by names.

    Faith, a student of the institution, recounted that one of the student fearfully pointed out the room of a lady whose name was mentioned when the cultist threatened to burn down the hostel when the bearer was not produced on time.

    According to her, the pandemonium continued until about few minutes before mid-night only to continue early on Friday morning with an uproar from the cultists who were precluded from entering the school premises by school security by locking the gate against them.

    IMG_20141121_155108Furthermore, several students returning from night studying in the school on Thursday were beaten and displaced as they run helter-skelter for safety. Meanwhile some sustained varying degrees of injuries while few others were reported to have died in the process.

    Later on Friday morning, ambulances were spotted around the community to convey corpses and injured victims for treatment.

    Resultant from this brawl, the institution has issued a notice to all students concerning the suspension of the second semester examination earlier slated for Friday, 21st of November till Monday, 24th of November.