The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultists

  • We’re not cultists, suspects claim

    Thirteen of the 137 persons arrested for alleged cultism have accused the police of wrongfully picking them up.

    The suspects, who were paraded yesterday by Lagos State Police Chief Imohimi Edgal, claimed that they were arrested while going about their lawful businesses.

    The police on Saturday and Sunday nights raided some parts of the state to frustrate plans by the Black Axe confraternity to foment trouble during their yearly July 7 celebrations.

    About 120 of them were arrested at Ikorodu and a big banner with Black Axe logo, a keg laden with liquid suspected to be an Indian Hemp-based drink called ‘skoochies’, six small kegs of skoochies, a big clay pot, two small calabashes and a locally made pistol recovered from them. The others were nabbed at Ogombo in Ajah.

    Edgal said the command had warned “cultists” preparing to celebrate their sacred day called 7/7 not to converge on any part of the state.

    He said: “We also encouraged good Nigerians to give information about these groups of persons anywhere they are seen.

    “Based on credible intelligence available to the command, which was communicated to the Officer in Charge of Anti-Cultism, 120 suspects were arrested at Ikorodu, where they were observing 7/7, undergoing initiation in preparation to unleash mayhem on the larger society.”

    But, a Ghana based footballer, Emmanuel Megai, 26, a man, Gabriel Aligbe and his wife, Ebele Joseph, as well as a group of 10 young girls, who were arrested, at Ikorodu, said they were neither near initiation venues, nor were they cultists.

    Megai said he had gone to Ikorodu to visit his girlfriend, adding that he was in his hotel room when policemen jacked his door and arrested him.

    He said: “I am 26-year-old and I am from Delta State. I play football in Ghana. I lodged in that hotel that night because I came to see my girlfriend who lives in that area. I am not a cultist. I do not know any of these suspects here.

    “I was inside my room when the police jacked my door. They opened it and arrested me. I have my identity card with me and you can see it yourself. Please, help me out. I do not want my career to be destroyed.”

    Aligbe, 33, said he and his wife went to watch Masqueraders dance at the Oba’s palace and were on their way home when they were arrested.

    He said: “We went to watch Masqueraders at the Oba’s palace. It was past 9pm when we were going home. As we were waiting for a motorcycle, a task force vehicle stopped and ordered us to enter. They did not tell us what we did. They took us to that Vatica Hotel and brought some boys out.

    “Some were stained with blood. Because they packed us together, the wrist of my shirt got stained too. They have not allowed me make a call.

    “I am a simple motorcyclist. Nobody knows I am here. I did not know what I did until now that I heard them say all these things. Ko ye mi o! Ejo o! Eshanu mi o!. (I don’t understand! Please have mercy on me!) I have family but my phone is not with me.”

    Joseph wondered why they were being paraded like criminals.

    Similarly, Musiliu Taiwo, 25, said she was at the party of her friend, Popoola Abosede, when she was arrested.

    She said: “We were 10 that attended my friend’s party on Friday. It was Popoola Abosede that was having her birthday party and we were at Vatica Hotel in Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    “It was on our way back that we saw those guys with banner. We did not understand the meaning and before we knew it, we were raided.”

    Ogechi Joseph, 18, said: “I did not do anything. I am not even aware of the birthday party. I just came to Lagos to visit my friend to see if she could help me get a job here.

    “My parents are in the village. I was even going back to her place to rest, before I knew it, the police team raided all of us.”

    A noodle seller, Kwanu Idegeme said the officers who arrested them, took them to Vatica Hotel, where a party was going on.

    “I sell noodles and egg in the morning and at night in front of my house at Igbe Road, Ifeoma junction.”

  • Three killed in Delta community cult war

    At least three persons have been confirmed killed in the Ovwian/Aladja Express Junction area of Udu council area of Delta state as some suspected rival cultists engage each other in battle.

    Besides the killings and further threat to the lives of residents and those who go through the very busy area, an outskirt of Warri metropolis, normal economic and other daily activities have been sacked by the panic that trail the cult war.

    The Nation gathered that trouble started on Monday when some unknown gunmen felled one Godwin Uwe, a notorious cultist who has been on police wanted list for a number of murder cases.

    Residents and those doing business in the area had initially assumed the fight to be a leadership tussle among members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), but matters wore more dangerous colour when the shooting got more serious.

    A source living close to the area, who gave his name as Bernard, said the fight was a leadership tussle among those operating the Ovwian motor park.

    “They dropped (killed) one person Monday, they have dropped almost tow today. It’s all these agbero (touts) boys; I think they said they are fighting over positions. The place has been a no go area since.

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    Police have taking over the whole area already..

    “The whole of the area has been locked up by the security since, so nobody can open shop there today. When I passed there Tuesday afternoon, they have packed the corpses from the place”, he said.

    Meanwhile, confirming the development, the Police Public Relations of the Delta state police command, Andrew Aniamaka (DSP), related the whole situation to cult rivalry, adding that the situation had been kept under control.

    “So far we have three people down, I am not aware of any wounded; as at yesterday somebody died and two others were killed today. It’s cult related, it’s between these Viking and Arrowbagers, even the person killed Monday, one Godwin Uwe, has been on a list of persons wanted in connection with cases of murder. He’s one of the
    kingpins of one of the cult groups; he’s been in hiding for a while and looked like the other group got him. As we speak there’s calm in the area and in the division.

    “Nobody has come to identify the two persons who were killed today. What we’ve discovered is that these groups strike and retreat, in other words, cult members from the area employ the services of those from outside to come and do their fight, after which they disappear”, Aniamaka said.

    When asked if the fight had any link with the NURTW in the area, he said “we’ll investigate to know if such (NURTW) rivalry has culminated into cult clashes”.

  • Bayelsa APC, group quarrel over use of cultists for elections

    •Govt blames party leaders for payroll fraud

    A socio-political group, the Niger Delta Peace Initiative (NDPI) yesterday accused the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, of recruiting cultists as part of its preparations for the 2019 general elections.

    The group ýdescribed the APC as currently constituted in the state as a party of cultists and alleged that the state leader of the party, former Governor Timipre Sylva was wooing members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join his party.

    The President of NDPI, Diepreye Ayah, in a statement ýsaid Sylva lured the immediate past Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Ibarakumo Otobo to join the APC after promising him the ticket of the party for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency.

    Ayah said the APC leader met with Otobo in Abuja, where he made the promise, just the same way he promised Osonkinme Blankson the same ticket.

    Ayah said the APC leader used similar tactics prior to the last governorship election to woo members of the PDP to the APC after assuring them of juicy positions which was never fulfilled.

    He said based on the assurances, most of the persons, who joined the APC sold their ýpersonal property to fund the governorship campaign of Sylva but later became bankrupt.

    Ayah said that Sylva was exploiting the greed of some members of the restoration government by promising them tickets ýfor various platform to run in the 2019 elections.

    The NDPI President said political appointees in the present administration who were always complaining of no money in the system ýshould stop being ungrateful but rather be contented that they had jobs and were earning reasonable salaries.

    While adding that the APC had nothing good to offer, Ayah called on young people of Bayelsa to be careful of their choices alleging that in the APC leader would only use and dump them.

    But the state Publicity Secretary, APC, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, described the claims as baseless and irresponsible.

    Referring to the group as faceless, Buokoribo said: “l don’t respond to faceless groups, who make baseless, irresponsible and ungodly claims.”

    Bayelsa State Government at the weekend also blamed the mess in the state’s public sector on the chieftains of the APC.

    The government said the APC leaders created room for payroll fraud, employment racketeering and other unethical practices when they ruled the state especially during the administration of former Governor Timipre Sylva.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, spoke at Twon Brass, Brass Local Government Area, in the ongoing town hall meeting on public sector reforms.

    Iworiso-Markson was reacting to the claims by the Chairman of the APC, Mr. Jothan Amos, that the state government sacked 28,000 workers under the guise of reforms.

    But the commissioner said the style of governance of the immediate past administration created rooms for rot and decay in the public sector.

    He accused the past administration of leaving behind huge debts and over-bloated wage bills which  he said the present administration was addressing through the ongoing reforms.

    Iworiso-Markson said it would be wrong and most unpatriotic for any right-thinking Bayelsan to

    He said: “Bayelsans will not make the mistake of allowing such characters to lead them again as they lack the political will to do what is right to move the state forward”

    ”We are not bothered because the reforms have come to stay and nothing will stop us from implementing them. Because they do not mean well for the state, they have started promising people that they will reinstate the ghost workers that have been removed from the payroll.

    ”It is unfortunate and indeed shocking that the APC members in their delusion are promising those affected by the reforms that if they take over power come 2020, they will reverse the reforms and reinstate them back to work.”

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Brass Local Government Area, Mr. Victor Isaiah commended the efforts of the reform team, noting that the council was saving an average of N10million monthly.

     

     

  • Police nab 12 suspected notorious cultists in Abuja

    Operatives of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested 13 suspected members of  Ayee and Arobaga confraternity cult groups.

    The suspects according to the Police were responsible for terrorising Apo area of Abuja and its environs.

    The Police in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Command’s Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah said the arrest was sequel to police intelligence report gathered after a recent violent clash between the two rival cult groups which recorded some casualties.

    The suspects arrested by Police operatives from Apo Division in connection with the recent violent rival cult clash are: Nonso Nnaji,  Chukwuebuka Charlse Okoye, Sunday Ogbodo,  Peter Chinedu, Jude Ezeh, Agha Henry, Ndubisi John,  Johnson Victor, Johnson Victor, Ikenna Ejike A.K.A Gorilla, Fredric Emeje, Micheal Omaliko, and Emeka Joseph.

    Manzah said the suspects have been identified through credible police intelligence as the master-minds of most of the violent cult clash in the area.

    The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Sadiq Bello has directed that the suspects be transferred to the Command Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) for discreet investigation.

    He also said that investigation was ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion.

    Bello also advised parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the activities of their children and wards, especially the places they go and the kind of friends they keep.

  • Six out of 10 young people are cultists, says CP

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal has expressed concern over the rising cases of cultism among youths.

    He called for a state of emergency on cultism, stating that six out of 10 young people were cultists.

    Edgal spoke at a town hall meeting with some residents of Surulere, Lagos Mainland.

    The theme was: “Partnership with community for crime prevention.”

    He said he instructed one of his officers to conduct a research on the reason for the development. The result, he said, revealed that it gave members advantage over their peers and prevented them from being intimidated.

    He blamed parents for not caring enough for their children, saying that was responsible for the problem.

    Edgal praised Surulere residents for supporting crime fighting, adding that there had been reduction in crimes activities in the area.

    The success of crime fighting in the state, he said, could be attributed to information from of the public.

    He urged the residents to continue to provide information to the police, advising them report any unprofessional misconduct by police officers.

    Edgal urged parents and guardians to monitor their wards to prevent them from being used as thugs during the forthcoming general elections.

    “The election year is approaching and it is time we start talking to ourselves. Do not allow politicians to use your children as touts. All you need to do is get your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and vote peacefully. Let us not allow some people to come from elsewhere to disrupt the peace in Lagos,” he said.

    He also warned against attack of police formations and property.

  • Four suspected cultists arraigned in Lagos

    Four suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity were on Friday arraigned at the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    The accused are – Ademola Solomon (23), Nweke Christian (24), Sunday Ikoh (24) and Lawal Afolabi (21).

    They are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and belonging to a secret cult.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Bosede Adegeshin, told the court that the accused with others at large committed the offences on May 22 at Aina Folabi Street, Lowa Estate, Ikorodu, at 11.42 p.m.

    “The accused and their accomplices, who are yet to be arrested, belonged to an unlawful society called ‘Eiye confraternity’.

    “They were caught during their meeting in the area following a tip off,’’ Adegeshin told the court.

    The offences contravened Sections 42 (a) and 411 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mr. E.O. Ogunkanmi, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties.

    Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be blood relations of the accused, while others should be civil servants, whose tax payment to the Lagos State Government should be verified.

    The case was adjourned till June 28 for mention.

     

     

  • Suspected cultists arraigned for firearms possession

    An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun State yesterday remanded two suspected cultists in Ilesa Prison for alleged unlawful possession of firearms.

    The defendants — Akande Oluwabusayo and  Oluwagbotemi Oni — are facing a four-count charge of unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to Aiye Secret Cult.

    Prosecutor Joshua Oladoye alleged the defendants committed the offences on April 7, at Oke-Onitea, Osogbo.

    He said the defendants were arrested by Federal SARS’ members.

    “They were nabbed with guns and live cartridges,’’ Oladoye added.

    The offences contravene sections 27(1) (b) (I) of the Firearms Law of Nigeria and sections 64 (a) (b) and 516 of the Criminal Law of Osun, 2003.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Counsel to the suspects Mr. Abiodun Olaide urged the court to grant his clients bail in most liberal terms.

    Magistrate Awodele Olubukola ordered that the accused be remanded in prison and adjourned the case till July 6 for mention.

    Two suspected cultists were arraigned for possessing firearms in Osun

  • Four students killed, scores wounded as cultists clash in Imo 

    No fewer than four students of the Imo State University Owerri were on Sunday feared dead after two rival cult groups clashed in Owerri, the state capital.
    The bloody clash that threw the city into stampede was said to be between members of Aye and Bagger confraternities in the University.
    According to a reliable source,  the supremacy fight started at a students’ hostel in front of the University’s main gate .
    The fracas resulted in pandemonium as students, including worshippers scampered for safety .
    According to a source within the university that pleaded anonymity, it took a Police detachment from the Anti cultism unit of the state Police Command restore normalcy.
    The source disclosed that the gun battle between the rival  cultists lasted for almost two hours adding that  “the cult members are killing themselves.”
    “They are students of Imo state University, Owerri. Nobody could immediately ascertain the actual cause of the clash but the shooting started at Delight hostel in front of IMSU gate.”
    It was gathered that trouble started when the rival cult members started exchanging hot words at the hostel before it degenerated to a full fight which resulted in the use of guns and other dangerous weapons.
    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, could not be reached for comments but a police source who preferred not to be mentioned confirmed the clash.
    The police source said that Policemen deployed from Orji Police Division and anti cultism Unit of the Command quelled the crisis.
    He however confirmed that the Police had arrested some of the cult members, adding that the fleeing ones were being trailed by the command.
    He said “we have rounded up some of the suspects .They are in police custody at Orji Police Division. We are still combing the university for the ones on the run .”

  • Police arrest underage ‘cultists’, others 

    The Lagos State Police Command Monday said it arrested seven underage and 13 others suspected to be cultists in raids conducted at Ikorodu and Lagos Island.

    Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal disclosed this during a briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja, expressing concerns about the membership of children and teenagers in various cult groups, adding that they were usually lured by friends who invited them for parties.

    Edgal said Hassan Olaniyi, 20, Afolabi Muiz, 18,  alleged kingpin Wahab Moshood, 26, and Ajenifuja Damola were arrested by the Officer in Charge of Anti-Cultism unit, Godwin Agbegbe, a Superintendent of Police (SP) following distress call that members of Eiye cult group were terrorising residents of Ejinirin-Iworo.

    He said the police recovered three cutlasses and two sharp knives from the suspects.

    “Similarly, Lekan David, 24, Eko John, 19, Kudus Idris, 17, Shakiru Ademode, Ibrahim Waheed, 17, Adebowale Uthman, 17,

    Yusuf Wale, 17, Abimbola Gbadamosi, 17,  Rahman Adepoju, 18, Alabi Abidemi, 18, Seun Giwa, 23, Ganiyu Babatunde, 16 and Liyasu Azeez, 16, were arrested by a team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Igbogbo, Isa Lawan, a Chief Superintendent  (CSP).

    “The command received information that a cult group would gather at Bayeku in Igbogbo to initiate new members. An undercover team was mobilised to the location and the suspects arrested.

    “Also, the command arrested a notorious cult leader, Lukman Agboola, 35, alias Baggo, for  threatening people with a gun at New Garage, Bariga. Police received information and tracked him to Yaba. He was trailed from there to Ogooluwa Street, Bariga, where he was arrested.

    “Investigation revealed that he caused the death of one Philip Adegoke alias Major on August 21, last year. On that day, he was in the company of other deadly cultists, Rainbow, Aranze, Segun AKA  Gbodon, Adekunle,  Asumo,  Ade and Agbara.

    “The late Adegoke was stabbed to death by the aforementioned members of Eiye confraternity led by Agboola. This case would be transferred to the homicide section, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).

    The Nation gathered that Agboola had stabbed Adegoke to death following a disagreement over N20,000 given them by a politician. It was learnt that another cult leader had snatched the money from the politician’s hands, which caused a scuffle, and then a fight.

    The police also arrested Ilesanmi Owodubi, 37 and Michael Juwon for cult related activities at Akoka and Bariga.

    Gbadamosi and Waheed denied being cultists, adding that they were invited for a birthday party by their friend, John Eko.

    Gbadamosi said: “On our way to the party, we saw policemen who were on patrol and they stopped us. They searched us and they did not find anything with us. Then they took us to their station. I never knew John was a cult member. My mum is not even aware I wanted to go for a party. She thought I was going to work because I sell cosmetics for someone.”

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  • Soldier, two others wounded in Army, cultists’ clash

    A solder attached to the 174 Battalion, Ikorodu and two suspected members of the Eiye confraternity were injured during a clash between Nigerian Army operatives and cultists.

    It was gathered that the gun duel took place on Monday afternoon at Eginrin Depression in Ikorodu, after troops stormed the cultists’ hideout while they were carrying out initiations.

    The Nation gathered that the operatives stormed the area following a tip off that one of the new initiates died when he was being tortured.

    The army also recovered a locally made double barrel pistol, five live cartridges, five machetes, four Jack knives, two table knives, three locally fabricated axes with nail-like edges, five mobile phones and a parcel containing substance suspected to be marijuana.

    Others are two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, eight identity cards, nine passport photographs, packets of condom, rings and charms.

    Confirming the incident to journalists on Saturday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udo said the injured soldier and the suspects were receiving treatment at the Battalion’s Medical Reception Station.

    He said 23 suspects were arrested.

    Udo, who was represented by the Commander, 9 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Moundhey Ali, said the suspects’ arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops and cultists.