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Tag: cultists

  • Suspected cultists kill one in Kwara

    Suspected cultists yesterday shot one person dead in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    The victim, identified simply as Wasiu, was said to have been killed near Ikokoro/Sakamo at 4pm.

    The victim, said to be in his 30s, had fled the area to avoid an attack, but recently returned.

    He was said to be a member of a rival cult group.

    It was learnt that Wasiu’s attackers comprised four gunmen who reportedly stormed the area in a commando style.

    They were said to have shot the victim at close range, which an eyewitness said was in the face.

    Residents and passersby scampered for safety as the gunmen attacked their victim.

    A source said: “It was like a movie scene, when the gunmen arrived. They started shooting so much that everybody had to run away. We didn’t know what happened; we only realised that the gunmen’s style appeared like they were cultists.

    “Before now, we have been observing Wasiu because his actions too were suspicious. He might have been a cult member. That is why he was away for some time before yesterday’s incident.”

    It was learnt that the remains of the victim were evacuated  by a relative before the police arrived on the scene.

  • Suspected cultists kill one in Kwara

    Suspected cultists kill one in Kwara

    Suspected cultists Sunday shot one person dead in Ilorin, Kwara state.

    The victim simply identified as Wasiu was said to have been killed around Ikokoro/Sakamo area of Ilorin at about 4pm.

    Wasiu, in his 30s, it was gathered had hitherto fled the area to avoid being attacked returned recently.

    He was said to have belonged to a rival cult group.

    The gunmen said to be four in number, were said to have arrived the area in a commando style and shot the victim at a close range.

    An eyewitness said the armed men shot the deceased in the face.

    There was anxiety at the scene of the incident as residents and passersby scamperwd for safety.

    It was learnt that the sporadic shooting rented the air forcing motorists and motorcycles plying the area to run for their lives.

    “It was like a theatre scene when the gunmen arrived. They started shooting that everybody around had to runaway. We didn’t know what happened, we only discovered that the style of operation of the gunmen appeared like they are cultists.

    “Before now, we have been observing Wasiu (the victim) because his action too was suspicious. He might be a cult member that is why he was away for sometime now before yesterday’s incident,” a source said.

    It was learnt that the remains of the victim were evacuated from the scene by a relative before the arrival of a detachment from the state police command.

  • When cultists struck at ABSU

    When cultists struck at ABSU

    Two students of Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu were beheaded in a cult clash on Uturu-Afikpo Road, an off-campus neighbourhood. UGOCHUKWU UGOJI-EKE reports.

    Chukwuebuka Nwaigbo, a 300-Level Estate Management student of Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu would have marked his birthday penultimate Sunday. He never had the chance to witness the day. He was killed on the eve of his birthday by cultists, who also severed his head.

    His friend, Samuel Ethelbert, a 300-Level Political Science student, was also killed. His head was also cut off in an evening attack that occurred at Chidoo Lodge on Uturu-Afikpo Road, an off-campus hostel. The third victim, Thankgod Umeaforo, a 300-Level Political Science student, sustained deep machete cut and he is said to be in critical condition in hospital.

    The hostel is about four kilometres from the campus. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that a group of cultists stormed the hostel at 11pm and went to the victims’ room.

    A student, who did not give his name, said: “When the assailants came into the lodge, they looked for someone to knock on the door of their victims. We heard the victims pleading for mercy, but their plea fell on deaf ears.”

    After killing the duo, the cultists severed their heads.  The heads were dumped in front of Pego One Lodge, another hostel.

    It was gathered that the murder was a reprisal by Atabo confraternity whose leader, Collins Kalu (aka Biggy), a final year student of Microbiology, was killed in a shootout by the rival Mafite confraternity in February. The late Samuel and the late Chukwuebuka allegedly belonged to Mafite group.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Uche Ikonne, visited the hostel urging students to be security conscious and shun cultism. He told them to report suspicious movements within the neighbourhood, saying security agencies were on the killers trail. He advised the students to move to the university hostels, instead of living off-campus, saying their security would be guaranteed in the school.

    The incident paralysed activities on campus. Examinations, which were to begin two days after the incident, were postponed. It could not be confirmed if the postponement was connected to the murder. None of the staff was ready to comment.

    The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Onyeke Udeviotu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the Commissioner of Police had directed the homicide section of the Crime Investigation Department to take up the matter.

    Udeviotu said the attack was suspected to be a reprisal from a rival cult group, pledging that the police would arrest the perpetrators.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu condemned the murder, describing it as a “brazen show of savagery”. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu said students should not engage in criminal acts that could thwart their academic pursuit and taint their character.

    He said: “Governor Ikpeazu warned that such dastardly acts being perpetrated by students in the name of cultism will no longer be condoned in any of the state-owned higher institutions. Cultism is an illegal practice, which has been outlawed in the state and country.”

    The governor warned criminal-minded youths to stay away from higher institutions in the state, while advising parents and guardians to educate their children on the danger of joining dangerous groups and engaging in violent acts.

  • Youths wage war against drug users, cultists

    Youths wage war against drug users, cultists

    The Kuyasi Awuse Family of Onigbongbo Youths Foundation has started a war against drug users and cultists in Onigbongbo in the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

    Speaking during a rally in Lagos, the chairman of the group, Alhaji AbdulAkeem Babatunde Azeez, said: “Starting from today, we have banned drugs and cultism in our community. That is why we are holding this rally to create awareness for youths to keep away from drugs and refrain from joining cults.”

    He further said: “Our community is a peaceful one. Therefore, we warn visitors, indigenes and non-indigenes taking drugs and operating as cultists in Onigbongbo to keep away from our community in their own interest. We have set up a taskforce that will be combing our area for cultists and drug users.

    “We will go for them in their hideouts. People caught will be handed over to the police and NDLEA for necessary actions. They are disturbing the peace of our community. They are criminals who should not be tolerated in any decent community.”

    Alhaji Azeez expressed his gratitude to the people of Onigbongbo for their support to the youths of the community in fighting drug users and cultists.

    He also commended Hon Wahab Akerele and some other patriotic citizens of the community for their cooperation with the youths in forcing out criminals from Onigbongbo.

  • Cultists kill man, shoot grandma

    Suspected cultists killed yesterday a 23-year-old man identified as Suleiman. His 82-year-old grandmother, Sherifat Lateef, was injured at their home in Oke-Ijebu in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    It was gathered that the bandits, who rode on a motorcycle, allegedly shot into the residence of the victim.

    Suleiman died instantly and his grandmother was rushed to the Federal Medical Hospital (FMC), Owo.

    The victim’s remains have been deposited at the FMC morgue.

    A police source said one suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the case has been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (DCII).

    He said preliminary investigation revealed that it was a case of cultism, adding that the police will get to the root of the matter.

  • Suspected cultists kill Ekiti patent store owner

    Suspected cultists on Tuesday evening killed a medicine store owner, Sunday Abudioke (29), in Odo Community on the Ado-Ilawe Road.

    Abudioke‘s head was slashed with an axe; he was thereafter dealt several machete blows by his assailants, who were said to belong to a cult group in a private polytechnic in the community.

    The victim, his mother’s only son, was murdered three weeks after his wife, Yetunde, delivered a baby.

    Sources said the victim was having issues with some boys in the vicinity, who allegedly dropped substances suspected to be marijuana behind his shop.

    This made him stay away from the shop for a while as he was said to be uncomfortable with the boys’ activities in the area.

    An eyewitness said Abudioke was visited by an unknown friend in his home and was lured to Odo to open his shop for business.

    The deceased, who reluctantly agreed to the friend’s request, later travelled on a commercial motorcycle alongside the friend to Odo community, a few kilometers away from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Another source told reporters yesterday that Abudioke was offered a ride by occupants of a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) which emerged from the polytechnic after closing his shop.

    Abudioke was reportedly taken to the bush between Odo and Ado, where he was attacked and left in a pool of his blood.

    The assailants did not take away the N15,000 found on the deceased but they made away with his mobile phone.

    He was found by a Good Samaritan, who was attracted by his screams for help, and was taken to the State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti.

    Abudioke was pronounced dead few hours after he was admitted at the Accident and Emergency Ward.

    His remains have been buried in his hometown of Ayetoro-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said he has not been briefed on the incident.

  • Ambode orders security agencies to apply force against vandals, cultists

    Ambode orders security agencies to apply force against vandals, cultists

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode Tuesday ordered security agencies to apply appropriate force to clampdown on criminals, pipeline vandals, miscreants and cultists disturbing the peace of residents in the state.

    The Governor who spoke during a security inspection tour of Owutu, Ishawo, Oke-Oko and other adjoining communities in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state, also warned criminals to stay off the streets of Lagos, vowing to stop at nothing to ensure the restoration of peace in the area, which had hitherto being disturbed by the activities of vandals and miscreants.

    The Governor who made a brief stop at the Little Palace Hotel, where vandals once used as hideout to carry out their nefarious activities before it was taken over by a combined force of the Nigeria Army, Navy, Airforce and the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Police under the code name, ‘Operation Awatse’, expressed deep regret over the loss of three officers of the operation, assuring that his administration will give the force the necessary support to wage war against the vandals.

    “I would like to use this as a platform to give a very strong warning to vandals and even cultists that are parading themselves on the street of Lagos.

    “Just recently we heard that the fingers of some of our men in the Task Force were chopped off by some hoodlums so to speak. I’m using this platform also to direct our security forces that they should go ahead to use appropriate force in mitigating against such incidences next time and this is in the overall interest of all of us. While we make sure that we are upholding the rule of law. We would not fold our arms and allow some miscreants to disturb the peace of Lagos.”

    “If we sit down in our office, we would not be able to appreciate the extent of the problem here. People here have been living in fear in the past. We want permanent peace in the area and that is why we are coming after the vandals and criminals. Let me use this opportunity to warn criminals to get off the streets of Lagos and get off the creeks,” he said.

    The Governor while appreciating the officers whose presence in the area had reduced the activities of the vandals and hoodlums terrorising residents, said he will ensure that all necessary apparatus and welfare for the officers is made available to boost their morale in the line of duty.

    “I have come here personally with the heads of security agencies in Lagos State and the Security Council members to firstly appreciate the work of security agencies that have been posted here since last October and to also commend you for the improvement we have made since the time that you commenced operation here.

    “We like to reiterate once again our full commitment to support security agencies in eradicating vandalism and all sorts of vices from the street of Lagos. Beyond the fact that we are supporting the Nigerian Police, we are also now more than ever committed to support all the other security agencies in ensuring that they carry out their work more efficiently. So, my presence today underscores that fact that we all have to join hands together to ensure that the ugly scenes like this will not repeat itself,” he said.

    Earlier, Lt Col. Julius Ogbebe, Commanding Officer of the Operation Awatse, who briefed the Governor and his entourage on the operational base of his squad, said they dislodged the vandals from the Little Palace Hotel on October 10, 2015, which has since led to the recovery of over 2000 by 50 litres gallon of illegal products, 36 vehicles while 15 suspects were also arrested and handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution.

    The Governor who also inspected the state of the road, revealed plans to link up the community with Arepo and Kara, expressing optimism that if the road network is accessible, it would go a long way to reduce the activities of vandals in the area.

    He therefore promised to champion collaboration for the construction of a link bridge among Lagos, Ogun and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure that Ishawo, Oke Oko communities is linked to Kara and Arepo via the creek to ensure easy access to Lagos Ibadan Expressway.

    Addressing community leaders and residents at a brief town hall meeting, said although his visit to the area was to access the security situation, he also took note of the need to open up the community so as to curtail the activities of pipeline vandals to the bearest minimum.

  • Panic as cultists go on rampage in Lagos community

    Panic as cultists go on rampage in Lagos community

    Residents of Mayaki Street in Oworonshoki, Lagos were gripped by fear after suspected cultists went on rampage.

    The hoodlums who left several persons injured, vandalised several shops and vehicles also looted wares and money belonging to private citizens.

    It was gathered that the palace of the Oworonshoki monarch was pelted with stones and bottles, while its occupants were threatened with guns.

    Trouble was said to have started at about 8pm on Sunday, after a young man identified as Monsuru, 25, was killed by a rival cult group around Atanda Alonge Street.

    Meanwhile, five persons, including two suspected to have murdered Monsuru have been arrested and currently being interrogated by police operatives.

    It was learnt that the deceased was murdered during a Valentine’s Day party held in the neighbourhood.

    His death prompted his cult members to regroup at about 11pm and stormed about four streets in the area, chasing people with bottles, cutlasses and guns.

    They were said to have engaged the rival group in a free for all, with unconfirmed claims that two more persons died.

    The clash did not stop in the dead of the night, as the hoodlums, it was learnt regrouped again before 7am, causing residents and shop owners to flee for safety.

    It was gathered that it took the intervention of policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the Area H Command, as well as the police station located along Atanda Alonge to restore peace.

    About 10 police patrol vehicles including an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was said to have been deployed to the area.

    As at the time The Nation visited, the usually busy area seemed deserted such that even the sand dredgers, who usually thronged the lagoon, were not in sight.

    Most of the shops in the neighbourhood were locked and the very few who dared to open, still looked frightened.

    A taxi driver who gave his name as Momoh, told The Nation that he was called by his wife to return home because “area don scatter.

    “I did not return home yesterday. I slept at the park and so, I was surprised this morning when my wife called me to come back that area don scatter.
    “She told me the guys were just attacking anyone they see. That they took the corpse of Monsuru on a procession to the Oba’s palace returned it to their area before they started fighting. They even threw bottles and stones inside the palace.

    “She also said that they were shooting gins and were destroying properties belonging to innocent people. They vandalised more than five shops on this line alone and carted away all the drinks and money they saw.

    “On Mayaki Street, I heard they also vandalised many buses, cars and shops too. Many were just running for their lives. I am certain they are cult boys. We have not had this kind of fight in this area for close to five years now.

    “I heard two other people died but I do not know how true that is. But I also know that about five people sustained injuries. Some on their heads, I do not know their names,” he said.

    A police source who spoke in confidence told The Nation that the two suspected murderers were nabbed by the Division, while the three other suspects who participated in the fracas were arrested by RRS and Area Command operatives.

    He stated that the suspected murders have already confessed to the crime and were given useful information that will aid police investigation at the division.

    According to the source, only one person died in the fracas, while about three others sustained injuries on the head and shoulder.

    When contacted, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, an SP, said only three persons have been arrested.

    She said the identities of the suspects won’t be made public yet.

  • NSCDC arrests 11 suspected cultists, others in Ondo

    The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday paraded 11 suspected secondary school cultists, a rapist and two human traffickers.

    The state’s NSCDC Commandant Adeyinka Ayinla said the suspected cultists included three girls and eight boys who were arrested during their meeting in Akure, the state capital.

    Ayinla, who refused to name the pupils’ schools, said they confessed that they were initiated by a former senior in their school, who had become a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO).

    The commandant said further investigation was being carried out to arrest the suspected initiator.

    He named the suspected human traffickers as Mrs Rose Ojeme and Mrs Susan John, who were allegedly held at a popular hotel in Akure.

    Ayinla said the two suspected traffickers would be handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary legal actions.

    According to him, the two suspects were conveying underage girls into the state for alleged prostitution under the pretext of engaging them in legitimate work.

    Ayinla said: “The two teenagers found with the suspects are 16 and 17 years old. They were brought to the state from Akwa Ibom State last week.

    “They were locked up in different rooms by the suspected traffickers and allowed various men, who might have paid the suspects, to have the carnal knowledge of them.”

  • Ilorin: Suspected cultists kill car wash operator

    Ilorin: Suspected cultists kill car wash operator

    Suspected cultists Monday shot dead a car wash operator in Ilorin, Kwara state.

    The incident led to confusion in Ilorin especially among residents of Ibrahim Taiwo road in Ilorin.

    The late Ajia was in 2004 sentenced to death by an Ilorin High court over a murder case involving him and one other which he appealed at the Court of Appeal and was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court.

    He was, however, granted state pardon by the immediate past administration in the state.

    The gruesome murder of Ajia reportedly took place along Ibrahim Taiwo road, Ilorin where his car wash business was located.

    The assailants said to be four in number reportedly went to under the bridge close to the State Stadium complex, where the deceased was operating a car wash and shot him on his forehead.

    An eye witness said that the suspected cultists believed to have come from one of the states in the south-west, also inflicted matchet cuts on the deceased after shooting him.

    The cultists were said to have arrived the deceased’s workshop in a taxi cab around 4:15 pm and went immediately to meet Ajia who was said to be alone in his shop.

    The incident led to traffic gridlock as the ever busy Taiwo road was closed to traffic.

    The deceased who was survived by four wives and many children, was buried Monday amidst wailings by his associates and sympathizers at the Muslim cemetery, Irewolede in the metropolis.

    The state police command spokesman Ajayi Okansanmi did not confirm the incident.

    He said he had not received full details of the circumstances leading to the killing of the deceased.