The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultists

  • One killed as ‘cultists’ strike on New Year’s Day

    A clash between suspected rival cults yesterday left one person dead in Badagry, Lagos State, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Sources told NAN that the deceased, simply identified as Shefiu, was shot dead around Senior Boys Joint, along Soglo Way, about 1am.

    NAN gathered that the deceased, who allegedly belonged to Eiye Confraternity, was shot dead during a scuffle between suspected rival cults.

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    A source said the cultists ran away from the scene immediately after the shooting, leaving behind the body of the victim.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Badagry, Mr. Samson Akhiromen, said one suspect had been arrested.

    He said investigation was on to establish the motive behind the killing, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects.

  • Police arrest suspected robber, cultists in Bayelsa

    The police in Bayelsa State have arrested a suspected armed robber, James Oweifa, for allegedly terrorising Yenagoa, the state capital and its environs.

    The 22-year-old Oweifa, who hails from Agbere in Sagbama Local Government Area was said to be in possession of a revolver pistol with five rounds of 9mm ammunition when he was nabbed by the police.

    A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Asinim Butswat confirm the arrest of the suspect popularly called Grade.

    Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)said the suspect was trailed and apprehended by the Surveillance Team of the command’s monitoring unit.

    He said: “On 13 December, 2018, at about 1330 hours, the Surveillance team of the Command Monitoring  Unit, acted on a tip-off and arrested one James Oweifa ‘m’ 22 years, a native of Agbere Community, Sagbama LGA.

    “The suspect a notorious Icelanders cultists AKA Grade, was arrested in possession of a locally made revolver pistol with five rounds of. 9mm live ammunition. Investigation is ongoing to arrest his cohorts”.

    He further said that stop and search operations embarked upon by operatives of the police command in Yenagoa metropolis was yielding positive results.

    Speaking on the success of the operations, he said: “On 14 December, 2018, at about 1120 hours,  Policemen on stop and search operations, arrested one Ayibamiebi David ‘m’ 20 years, a.k.a Desperado in a tricycle along Ekeki Road, Yenagoa.

    ”The suspect, a notorious Icelanders cultists is a native of Opuama community, Southern Ijaw LGA, he was arrested in possession of a locally made pistol. Investigation is ongoing”.

     

  • Nine suspected cultists on trial

    Nine men were yesterday arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly belonging to an unlawful society, the `Eiye’ confraternity and possessing  hard drugs.

    They are: Tope Samuel, 27; Victor Chimidi, 24; Precious Kachi, 22; Emmanuel Chijioke, 21; Michael Oluwafemi, 21, Tobi Adebayo, 25, Michael Adebayo, 21; Christopher Agu, 23 and Michael Ugochukwu, 23.

    The accused, who live in Bucknor, Isolo and Ejigbo, were charged with conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and unlawful gathering.

    Prosecutor Lucky Ihiehie said they committed the offence on November 14 at 1 pm at Beckam Hotel, Ejigbo, Lagos.

    He said policemen from Igando Division arrested them with exhibits following a distress call from the hotel that cultists were doing incantation.

    Ihiehie said the accused and others at large had gathered for the birthday party of Adebayo, the ring leader who initiated others.

    The prosecutor alleged that the accused were arrested with hard drugs, bottles of codeine, Indian hemp, four sachets of Refnol tablets and pictures of the initiation process on some of their phones.

    He said the case was transferred from the Igando Division to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Intelligence Department (CIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, on November 15.

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

    The sureties, she said, must be employed with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    Kubeinje adjourned till January 2.

  • Outrage as cultists kill 16-yr old girl in Bayelsa

    Suspected cultists yesterday killed a teenager in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in a bid to snatch her mobile phone.

    The 16-year-old girl, Siefa Fred, a 100 level student of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) was shot dead while running an errand for her mother in the state capital.

    Fred, who was at home following the strike action declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), was said to have gone out at about 8pm to buy roasted meat popularly known as suya for her mother.

    She was said to be close to her residence when the hoodlums opened fire on her  in a bid to snatch her phone.

    Her mother was said to have rushed to the scene following the gunshots only to see her daughter in a pool of her blood.

    The Nation gathered that the helpless mother raised the alarm that attracted sympathizers, who rushed the girl to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

    Investigations showed that the incident was one too many as innocent residents in Yenagoa are constantly attacked and killed by cultists, in a bid to rob them of their mobile phones.

    “The incident happened at about 8pm beside Zenith Bank in Amarata area. The suspected street cultists, who were on the prowl, shot her and ran away with her phone leaving her dead on the ground.

    “Resident of the area came out and rushed her to the hospital, but she later died. Her is currently at the mortuary,’’ said a source.

    The killing of the girl sparked outrage as residents condemned security agencies, especially the police for failing to contain cultists in the state.

    One of the residents identified simply as Moses said: “It is as if Bayelsa is a lawless state. These boys are everywhere with arms killing and maiming people just to snatch their valuables especially phones. They operate at night and in daytime without hinderances. We are not safe. Imagine the cruel way the life of young and vibrant Seifa Fred was snuffed out  by them(cultists).

    “The government must rise to the occasion. They should partner with security agencies to stop this killing. The government should not allow cultists to form their own government”, he added.

    The Nation learnt that suspected cultists had been terrorising Obele, Abor Road, Saint Peters area, Amarata, Kpansia, Opolo and Tombia areas, described as red spots in Yenagoa.

    Friends of the deceased told The Nation that Fred was chatting with them on the social media, a few minutes before her death.

    One of her friends, Gideon Owili said: “Bayelsa state is really not safe. Seifa Fred was online a few minutes ago. She was shot dead because of her smart phone. She gave them the phone, but they still shot her. I am in tears and deep sorrow.’’

    The leader of the Egbesu Brotherhood, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, described the killing as unfortunate and called on the youth to stop the violence.

    “Cultism and abuse of drugs is on the increase, there is no day that passes in Yenagoa, that gunshots are not heard. People are being killed like chickens, yet no reports of arrests made.

    “We should join hands together to restore peace in our state, cultism affects us all, if you are not a cultist then you are a victim, don’t wait for this government, security is everybody’s business”.

    The state government condemned the killing of Seifa Fred and called for collective efforts to stop agents of death.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson appealed to the security agencies to be alive to their duties.

    He said: “We need to get the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. This is no time to apportion blames. We all need to take responsibility for our collective security.

    “We must all collectively condemn this and rise up to confront these criminal gangs terrorizing our neighborhoods. The perpetrators are not spirit. They live among us. Let us not be silent. Let’s not be afraid or shy away from reporting them because it could be anybody next”.

    The police in a statement signed by its spokesman in the state, Mr Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killing and promised to arrest the culprits.

    Butswat said: “On 8 November, 2018, at about 2030 hours, unknown suspected cultists at Amarata, Yenagoa, shot one Seiyefa Fred ‘f’ 16 years, while trying to dispossess her of her mobile phone. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

    “The Police have swung into action and are working on a promising lead on the identity of the suspects and efforts have been intensified to arrest them.

    “The command has embarked on community engagement meetings with relevant youth bodies in a bid to stem the tide of cult related activities. Members of the public should continue to assist the Police with useful information to combat crime in Bayelsa State”.

  • Cultists kill policeman, three others in Bayelsa

    Gunmen suspected to be cultists have killed an unnamed policeman and three others in two incidents in Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the policeman, attached to the Police Mobile Force, was gunned down in Yenagoa.

    The three others were killed at Otuesiga in Ogbia Local Government.

    The policeman was said to have run into cultists protesting and shooting at Tombia, following the alleged arrest of their leader.

    Sources said on sighting the policeman, the cultists saw him as their enemy and shot him.

    At Otuesiga, it was learnt that suspected cultists stormed the community to kill two of their rivals.

    The gunmen were said to have located their enemies, shot them while a passerby was hit by a stray bullet.

    The new Police Commissioner, Mr. Ebere Onyeagoro, confirmed the killing of the policeman.

    He said: “The command regrettably lost one of its men on way to duties. That is one of the hazards of the job. We are doing our best to make sure such incident does not occur. It is essentially as a result of cultism.

    It was unfortunate that the officer ran into them and was killed.

    “We will do our best; we will sustain all patrols to make sure we curtail the acts of these cults. The fact is that crime does not pay in any way. We will not reward crime.

    “The parents and the good people of Bayelsa should advise their children and wards to shun crimes and violence. We are on top of the situation and are working on intelligence. At the end, those concerned will be brought to book.”

    Onyeagoro said cultism, robberies and other crimes would be dealt with.

    He said on assumption of duty last Friday, he noticed that the prevailing crimes were cultism, robbery, rape, indecent assaults, chieftaincy tussle, communal disputes, among others.

  • 15 cultists renounce membership

    Fifteen cultists have renounced membership of cults at Diogbe in Igbo Etiti Local Government of Enugu State.

    The cultists, whose ages range between 18 and 25, had engaged in crimes in the community and its environs.

    Administering oath of renunciation and undertaking on the repentant cultists yesterday, Police Commissioner Mohammed Danmallam urged them to shun acts that could bring them in conflict with the law.

    Danmallam, represented by spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, enjoined the residents to accept the repentant cultists, saying they should not be stigmatised.

    “This is part of the Police Public Relations Department’s outreach called Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) programme meant for countering narratives of cultism and social vices among youths, by making them to be better citizens.

    “Our youths must resist temptation of yielding to negative influences of friends and peer groups if they will become champions tomorrow.

    “I enjoin you to know who your friends are and the kind of lives they live, to avoid getting involved as well,” he said.

    Danmallam described cultism as an envelope containing many crimes such as robbery, murder, kidnapping, rape, drug related crimes and others.

    He advised youths to reflect on the positive sides of their future.

    The monarch, Igwe Uchenna Anikwe, said he and his cabinet members had been battling cultism in the last five years, adding that they had spent a lot of money on security.

    The Chairman of Post Primary School Management Board, Mr. Nestor Ezema, said the government was determined to stop cultism and unruly behaviour among pupils and students.

    He urged parents and guardians to rise up against unruly behaviours among their children and wards, saying they should monitor their friends.

    Rev. Fr. Victor Ozioko, a Catholic priest in the community, admonished the repentant cultists to move closer to God.

  • Family condemns attack on farmer by suspected cultists

    The family of a man, Adeolu Samuel Otubushin, in Iperu Remo area of Ogun State has condemned persistent attacks on him by suspected cultists, following his refusal to join the group.

    Tracing the genesis of the attacks, the family spokesman, Adekanmi Zacheus said Adeolu’s refusal to join the local cult group was based on his Christian background and belief.

    The family stated that Adeolu, who used to run a relatively flourishing farm in the GRA area of Ijebu Ode, relocated to Lagos, from where he fled into hiding after the fiendish group set his farm ablaze and placed fetish objects in the farm house.

    ‘’ He earned his first and second degrees from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,(FUNNAB) and Olabisi Onabanjo University(OOU), both in Ogun State, and thereafter established a flourishing farm in Ijebu Ode. A few years ago, some people who claimed to be members of Ogboni secret society said he was chosen by their oracle and they tried fruitlessly to initiate him into their cult group, citing his royal blood as the reason.

    ‘’The matter assumed a dangerous when the dreaded cult group  visited his house in Ijebu Ode and left a fetish object there with a note asking him to bring the item to the venue of their meeting for initiation or risk their wrath.’’

    Zacheus explained further that Adeolu escaped a kidnap attempt in 2006, during which the cultists had planned to take him to their grove and subject him to a forcible initiation.

    ‘’While he was returning from a church programme in August 2006, the cultists attacked him and tried to abduct him for a forcible initiation but he escaped unhurt. They repeated same thing twice in 2013, by setting fire to his barn at his farm and attempted to kidnap him on his wedding day after he was trailed to the church where the ceremony took place. All these attacks on him were reported to the police but nothing came out of it.’’

    ‘’Few weeks ago, the group accosted a member of our family, called Adejuwon, from whom they demanded to know Adeolu’s whereabouts. When they did not get any favourable response from Adejuwon, they told him that they would deal with Adeolu whenever they set their eyes on him. As a responsible family, we do not want to dismiss their threats as empty, hence, we are crying out through the media.’’

     

  • Edgal to cultists: leave Lagos

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal yesterday warned criminals, especially cultists, to keep off the state.

    The police chief said the peace reigning across the state was sacrosanct.

    Edgal said the command was not oblivious of the fact that campaigns and political rallies ahead of the 2019 polls had begun and that unscrupulous politicians might want to recruit cultists to foment trouble.

    The command has arrested 1,000 suspected cultists this year with over 2,000 others renouncing their membership of various secret socities.

    Explaining the clampdown on cultists, Edgal said: “Cultism is against our laws. It does not represent anything good. Most cultists engage in crimes, such as armed robbery, prostitution and thuggery.

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    “Cults are potential recruiting grounds for unscrupulous politicians who might want to use them during electioneering campaigns and the elections.

    “We cannot allow anything to disrupt the peace, security of Lagos. We cannot let the state become a breeding ground for cultists. That is why we have continued to appeal to parents and guardians to admonish their wards.”

    The police chief assured politicians that tight security would be provided at all rallies, urging them to notify the police ahead of time for proper deployment.

    He said: “All that is required of politicians is to inform the police ahead of time about any rally to enable the command provide security to forestall any breach of peace.

    “Thuggery and violence of any kind will not be tolerated. Politicians and their supporters must play by the rules.”

     

  • Residents seek govt’s help against cultists

    Residents of Ijora, Badia have appealed to the Lagos State government to rid their community of cultists.

    The Nation learnt that the cultists are having a field day in the community.

    A resident, Mr Egbeyemi Idris, recalled that some people were killed in a cult war few weeks ago.

    “Last month, there was a case between the Aiye and Eiye cult groups. One of the Eiye members was shot by a member of the Aiye group, which made the two groups go into war. The battle lasted for two days; some people were killed and many injured. The cult members also destroyed the windscreens of cars that were parked nearby,” he said

    A resident, who simply gave his name as Sola, said: “Cultism in our community is a serious case; we live in fear of the cultists and can’t walk around the community freely without being embarrassed by them. They attack young boys and girls and force them to join them in their various cult groups. We need the help of the government for we can’t fight them ourselves.”

    The councillor, representing Ijora Oloye Ward E, Liadi Saheed, said the council would do everything to reduce cultism in the community.

    “The Local Government Chairman, Alhaja Funmilayo Akande-Muhammed, myself and the Ijora monarch have carried out sensitisation programmes to enlighten the people on the dangers of cultism. We have also set an example by charging cultists caught to to court. I can assure you that soon cultism will be a thing of the past in this community as the government is taking every step necessary to stamp it out,” he said.

  • Police arrest eight suspected cultists in Lagos

    Policemen attached to the Ilasamaja Division in Lagos have arrested eight suspected cultists including the leader of Black Axe in the axis and an herbalist.

    The suspects’ arrest followed last week’s bloody clash between members of Black Axe and Eiye Confraternity.

    It was gathered that six of the suspects -Samsondeen Musari, Senibol Pwel, Opeyemi Shoyombo, Kosoko Abiola, Joshua Oke, Adekunle Akinbola – were apprehended over the weekend at a hotel they lodged preparatory to the attack.

    Our correspondent gathered that policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mrs. Titilayo Oriyomi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), stormed the hideout and arrested the suspects who were already dressed in their regalia.

    A resident, who spoke to our correspondent, said the Aiye leader, Emeka Ihuoma and the herbalist identified as Adio were picked up on Monday night when the clashes resumed.

    He said: “There had been serious figuring between rival cult groups in Ilasa. Some of the cultists were arrested over the weekend and two major persons on Monday.

    “The leader was found with two guns and ammunition. He had some charms too. The herbalist was the one who prepared charms for them.

    “Policemen have taken over Ilasa to prevent another attack. We have had some sort of peace. Community leaders even went to thank the DPO because the area has been hot since last week.”