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Tag: cultists

  • Police arrest 53 suspected cultists in Anambra

    Anambra State Police Command has arrested 53 suspected cultists in their hideouts.

    Police spokesman Mohammed Haruna, said on Thursday in Awka that the raid was sequel to the increasing cases of cult activities in the state.

    The operation, he said, was carried out by operatives attached to the command’s ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in conjunction with Special Anti-Cultism Unit.

    According to Haruna, “At  Abba/Abagana axis, 15 suspected cultists were arrested;  at Ukwulu, six suspected cultists were arrested; at Oko/Amaokpola/Awgbu axis, eight suspected cultists were arrested.”

    He added that 24 of the suspects were arrested at Nteje, Ogidi, Amawbia, Urum and Ihiala areas of the state.

    Read Also: Army arrest suspected cultists in Abia Poly

    Some of the items recovered from the suspects, he said, include four axes, three cutlasses, some quantities of dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and a substance suspected to be cocaine.

    He said out of the 53 arrests, 15 were screened out, nine were charged to court while 29 were undergoing investigations

    ”In a related development, police detectives attached to Ogidi Division in conjunction with Puff Adder operatives, following intelligence report stormed the hideout of a notorious armed robbery suspect, one Emeka at Ikenga Ogidi and recovered a double barrel Pistol. Emeka escaped through the back door and effort is ongoing to get him arrested,” Haruna said

  • 95 suspected cultists nabbed in Anambra

    Ninety-five suspected cultists have been arrested by the police in communities in Anambra State, police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said in a statement yesterday.

    He said the suspects were arrested by the command’s Special Anti-Cult Unit (SPACS) following raids on criminals’ hideouts carried out from May 4 to date.

    Mohammed added that 32 of them were screened out, 28 charged to court, 10 placed under police supervision for being underage, while 25 others were under investigation.

    He said: “On May 4 at Okija/Ihiala, 18 suspected cultists were arrested. On May 5 at Ekwulobia, six suspected cultists were nabbed.

    “On May 6 at Nteje/Awkuzu, 15 suspected cultists were arrested. On May 7 at Nkpor Uno, five suspected cultists were nabbed. On May 8 at Ifite Awka, 11 suspected cultists were held.

    “On May 9 at Oko/Nanka, 22 suspected cultists were apprehended. On May 10 at Enugwu Ukwu/Nimo/Nise, 18 suspected cultists were arrested.”

  • Cultists kill one; injure two in Lagos

    Residents of Ogodo Valley in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos State, were thrown into panic on Sunday night as gunmen suspected to be cultists killed one and injured two children on the streets.

    Eyewitnesses told The Nation that the victim, simply identified as Dare Atlanta, who sells Indian hemp, was hanging out with his friends in the Valley when he received a phone call from his soon-to-be killers posing as customers around 9pm.

    The victim then climbed up to Atiba Osbourne Street to meet them where he was immediately shot in the head.

    In a bid to escape, the killers, numbering four, started shooting sporadically, injuring a boy and a girl who were hit by stray bullets.

    The body of the victim was evacuated by a police patrol team from Anthony Police Division and an officer, pleading anonymity, said investigation was underway to establish the motive behind the killing.

    He added that efforts were on to apprehend the killers.

    A resident said that the killing might have be connected to a recent clash between groups from Mende and Ojota.

  • Suspected cultists rob, kill ASP

    Six suspected cultists have appeared before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court for alleged robbery and killing of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

    They are Akinwale Bamido, 25; Olanrewaju Bamido, 22; John Matter, 21; Moses Adeniyi, 23; Shola Olatoye, 25 and Okechukwu Augustine, 18.

    The defendants are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, murder, robbery and membership of an unlawful society.

    Their pleas were not taken.

    Prosecuting Inspector Maria Dauda said they committed the offence last November 27 at ‘D’ Spot, Badagry Expressway, Ijanikin, Lagos.

    Dauda alleged that the defendants robbed 45-year-old ASP Abiodun Akinde of his phones, car keys and N20,000 as well as shot him dead.

    “The defendants, who belong to a cult called “Aiye Confraternity”, shot Akinde to death,” he said.

    Magistrate Monisola Ayinde ordered that they be kept in Ikoyi Prison, pending advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The case continues on May 20.

  • 200 suspected cultists renounce membership in Ondo kingdom

    THE Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo and his council at the weekend took a drastic measure in tackling the menace of youths’ involvement in cult activities.

    No fewer than 200 suspected cultists openly renounced their membership of the secret society at Osemawe’s palace, Ondo.

    It was after series of consultations by the monarch with chiefs, opinion leaders, law enforcement agents, youth associations and other stakeholders in the area.

    The occasion was witnessed by members of the Osemawe in-Council, chiefs, spiritual leaders and executive members of the Ondo Ekimogun Youths Association among other stakeholders.

    In an address to the repentant cult members, community leaders told the youths that socio-economic growth cannot take place in an environment dominated by incessant threats to security, lives, and properties of the residents.

    The youths were encouraged to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by Oba Kiladejo to renounce their membership of cultism and engage in productive activities.

    They were warned that any individual or group found to engage in cult activities after the renunciation exercise capable of truncating the peace of the kingdom would be handed over to law enforcement agents.

    The high chiefs hailed the Osemawe for putting in place such initiative, particularly at a time when incidences of rival cult clashes and killings were on the rise in the kingdom.

    Some of the confessed cultists, while responding, thanked the Osemawe for the opportunity given them to come forward and renounce their membership of secret cults.

    They however or solicited for assistance to be empowered on vocations that would help them to earn a living and be meaningfully engaged.

  • Police arrest suspected serial killer, cultists 

    THE police have arrested a suspected serial killer-cum-cultist, Ibrahim Abdullahi, alias Tiny, in Ijegun-Egba, a Lagos suburb.

    Lagos Command spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said  in a statement yesterday that Tiny was arrested around 3a.m., on Saturday, with Kelvin Okey at their hideout.

    He described Tiny as a notorious cultist who has been liinked  to  the death of three persons at Satellite Town.

    Elkana said other suspected cultists identified as Ismaila Adebayo, 21, Bode Akodo, 21, and Adefesun Abdulwahab, 25, were apprehended in an operation led by Satellite Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

    The clampdown, he said,  followed the directive of Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu to all area commanders and DPOs to raid criminals’ hideout.

    “During preliminary interrogation, they (Abdullahi and Okey) confessed to belonging to a cult called the Aro-Bagger, aka Vickings. The other suspected cultists arrested are members of Eiye group.

    “CP Muazu has directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, Yaba, to take over the case involving Abdullahi, which has to do with investigation into the three murder incidents linked to him. The other suspects were transferred to the command’s Anti-Cultism Squad for further investigation,” Elkana said.

    The spokesman added that a suspected notorious traffic robber, Stephen Egbe, was also arrested on Mile Two-Badagry Expressway around 8:05pm on Saturday.

    Egbe was arrested at Mosalashi bus stop, near Maza-Maza, by detectives from the Satellite Division. He will be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.

  • Obaseki declares war on cultists

    EDO State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has declared war on cultists and cult related activities in the state. Obaseki said there were hundreds of investors waiting to invest in the state and the investors had to be assured that the state is safe and secure for businesses to thrive.

    Obaseki said providing security and tracking of cultists and cult related activities were now a priority for his administration. Speaking at an interdenominational church service to celebrate peaceful elections in the state and victory of the All Progressives Congress in the March 9, House of Assembly elections, the governor  said he would invoke the full wrath of the law on cultists. He said plans were on to set up a Special Security Squad on cultism in collaboration with the Nigerian Police. According to him: “I am going to go heavily on cultism.

    We are setting up a special squad on cultists. We must make Edo safe and make people know Edo is safe to do business. “I am giving full effect to the law on cultism. I will also not accept thuggery and ‘agbero’ in this state. If we find anybody collecting revenue illegally, we will take appropriate action to deal with who ever is involved. “Security is now my number one priority. We have started investing in security. We have raised the Security Trust Fund and it is the sustainable ways of dealing with security  “We have a lot of economic plans. We have to convince the investors that Edo is safe.

    “The issue of cultism is going to be my next agenda. We already have a law in place against cultism. I am going to give full effect to that law. Please if you have any persons or relations who are involved in cultism, tell them to desist from it. “In the next several months, I am going to go tough on cultism.

    With the new Commissioner of Police of Edo, we have set up a Special Squad.” Chairman of Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Oyennude Kure, had in his statement urged Obaseki to tackle cult activities before it gets too late. Kure suggested the setting up of a committee to look into ways of providing lasting solution to stopping cult activities in the state. He lamented  that secondary schools in the state were becoming citadel of cultism instead of learning.

  • Obaseki declares total war on cultists

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has declared war on cultists and cult related activities in the state.

    Governor Obaseki said there were hundreds of investors waiting to invest in the state but had to be assured that the state is safe and secure for businesses to thrive.

    Obaseki said providing security and tracking of cultists and cult related activities were now a priority for his administration.

    Speaking at an interdenominational church service to celebrate peaceful elections in the state and victory of the All Progressives Congress in the March 9, House of Assembly elections, Governor Obaseki vowed to invoke the full wrath of the law on cultists.

    The Governor said plans were on to set up a Special Security Squad on cultism in collaboration with the Nigerian Police.

    READ ALSO: Obaseki warns against disruption of activities at Benin Central Mosque

    According to him: “I am going to go heavily on cultism. We are setting up a special squad on cultists.

    “We must make Edo safe and make people know Edo is safe to do business.

    “I am giving full effect to the law on cultism. I will also not accept thuggery and ‘Agbero’ in this State.

    “If we find anybody collecting revenue illegally, we will take appropriate action to deal with whoever is involved.

    “Security is now my number one priority. We have started investing in security.

    “We have raised the Security Trust Fund and it is the sustainable ways of dealing with security

    “We have a lot of economic plans. We have to convince the investors that Edo is safe.”

    He added:  “The issue of cultism is going to be my next agenda. We already have a law in place against cultism.

    “I am going to give full effect to that law. Please if you have any person or relation involved in cultism, tell them to desist from it.

    “In the next several months, I am going to go tough on cultism. With the new Commissioner of Police of Edo, we have set up a Special Squad.”

    Chairman of Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Oyennude Kure, had in his statement urged Governor Obaseki to tackle cult activities before it gets too late.

    Kure suggested the setting up of a committee to look into ways of providing lasting solution to stopping cult activities in the state.

    He stated that secondary schools in the state were becoming citadel of cultism instead of learning.

  • Cultists kill corps members in Bayelsa

    There was outrage in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday following the murder of some corps members by cultists.

    It was gathered that the cultists stormed the corps members’ residence on School Road in Swali and shot three of them.

    Two were confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa, and the third is receiving treatment at the hospital.

    The victims were Popoola Oluwatobi Olamide (30), a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and an indigene of Oyo State; George Onokpoma and Gbenga Dada.

    Olamide reportedly died on the spot. Onokpoma died at the FMC. Dada was said to be receiving treatment at the hospital. Their room was riddled with bullets and there were blood stains on the floor.

    Residents lampooned the security agencies for their inability to tame the rampaging gunmen. They wondered how a small town like Yenagoa, with headquarters of the 16 Brigade of the Army, Central Naval Command, Mobility Command of the Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (ODS), the police, Department of State Security (DSS) and other security outfits could be overrun by cultists.

    A resident said the hoodlums, about seven, attacked the corps members’residence about 9pm.

    He said: “We heard gunshots from the direction of the corps members’ room. One of them was screaming repeatedly and asking what their offence was. Another gunshot sounded and there was silence.”

    Another neighbour added that the victims were marking examination scripts when the gunmen barricaded the building.

    “We are saddened by this incident. The deceased were quiet and easy-going individuals. They hardly kept late night. They were always sitting at their doorpost whenever there was power outage,” he said.

    Angry reactions have trailed the general insecurity in Yenagoa, and the murder of the corps members. Most residents questioned the essence of having many security outfits in the capital city.

    An eyewitness, who identified himself as David, said he saw the bodies and wondered why insecurity had been allowed to degenerate.

    He said: “What is Yenagoa turning into? The level of insecurity is alarming. Two Youth Corps members killed this night at Swalli community by suspected robbers.

    “When I saw the bodies at the Federal Medical Center, I was troubled in my spirit. What will become of their parents who have spent hard resources to send them to school only to lose them while serving their fatherland, the land that doesn’t have faith in the ability of the youths?”

    Another resident, Fawe, lamented that Yenagoa had become notorious for unpleasant and criminal incidents. He blamed political actors for the development.

    He said: “Unpleasant news every day in Yenagoa. A minimum of two security personnel to the least political appointee while the citizens share one incompetently trained and underfed policeman to a whole street, or none at all.

    “Those who call the shots live in well guarded environments and go about in bullet proof cars purchased with taxpayers’ money.

    “Yenagoa is not bigger than Ada George Road in Port Harcourt. It’s the worst thing to lose a child. Now what will be of the parents of the deceased?”

    It was gathered that Commissioner of Police Olusholla David visited the State Secretariat of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and met with the State Director, Mrs. Lotto Bolade.

    David assured the NYSC of a rejigged security strategy to ensure the safety of corps members.

    The police boss promised to brief Governor Seriake Dickson on the incident.

    He said: “No one will hear the incident and not be shocked. The corps members may be scared but I assure them there will be improved security under my watch.”

    A statement by the police spokesman, Butswat Asinim, said the police had launched a manhunt for the fleeing cultists.

    The statement reads: “On 20 March, about 22:00hours, about seven robbers attacked the residence of Jerry Yeseme Moses ‘M’, proprietor of a school at Swalli Yenagoa.

    “The robbers killed one corps member, Oluwatobi Popoola (30), and shot two others – George Onokpoma (M) and Anthony Gbenga Dada. The victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa where George Onokpoma was confirmed dead, while Anthony Gbenga is responding to treatment.

    “The command has launched a manhunt for the gunmen and investigation is ongoing.”

  • Man cries out over suspected cultists’ attack on nephew

    A 57-year-old businessman based in Ijebu-Igbo town of Ogun State, Mr Sanya Ademola, has cried out to security operatives to intervene in the constant intimidation and harassment of his nephew, Ajulo David, by suspected members of Ogboni fraternity.

    Ademola, who raised the alarm in Abeokuta, the Ogun-State capital while speaking with reporters, claimed that the suspected cultists led by one Balogun had made life miserable for his nephew and members of his family following his nephew’s refusal to join the cult group.

    Ademola said that the travail of his nephew,  started in August 2014, when the leadership of the cult group in his town became vacant following  the mysterious death of his nephew’s father, Ajulo Ishola, who was the former leader of the group.

    He said: “Since the death of his (Ajulo) father who was the Oluwo and head of Ogboni in his home town occurred, there had been intense pressure on Ajulo to take over as the new leader of the cult group, all to no avail.

    ”In 2016, between January – May,  Ajulo cried out for assistance and reported the case at a police division in the community, when he was brutally attacked by suspected members of the Ogboni group, but the matter was handled with levity and there was no guarantee of Ajulo’s safety. ‘’

    He also noted that Ajulo’s mother was abducted in 2017 by suspected cultists and was released a few days later, because his son rejected to lead the cult group.

    He explained that the fears of the family have been heightened by renewed moves to install a traditional ruler in the town, which comes with traditional rites usually performed by the leader of the cult group, which is still vacant because of Ajulo’s refusal to lead the group.

    Ademola said that his nephew’s neighbours at his Lagos residence had recently sighted some strange old men who stormed the house and threatened to punish Ajulo for turning down his nomination as new head of the cult group.

    He added:  ‘’I am not satisfied with the way the issue was handled by the Police after my nephew reported the case, hence, I want the police and Ogun State government to wade into the matter again, since the cultists are still making continuous threats to our family because of my nephew’s refusal to join their cult group.