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Tag: cultists

  • Cultists kill father of three in Akwa Ibom

    Suspected cultists have shot dead a 50-year old father of three, Imoh Etuk in Ikot Akpaidem village in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Our correspondent learnt that the deceased was shot dead Tuesday at about 7:48 am in his farm on his way back from his farm.

    “The village is completely deserted because of cults’ activities and majority of the local residents have fled the community to safer grounds”, a local vigilante, who would not his name in print told Correspondents.

    An indigene of the community, who spoke from his new location in exile, Friday Eyo, recalled that the deceased returned to the village from Lagos following the ban on commercial motorcyclists by the then administration of Mr. Raji Fashola.

    He said Etuk was also engaged in petty trading along with his motorcycllist business. He added that “things were not so rosy before the gunmen invaded the village, forcing everybody to flee from Ikot-Akpa Idem”.

    According to him, “from January to April 11, people have been killed in the small village”, adding that “the village has become a desolate waste” as its inhabitants had fled to other places in Akwa Ibom and other States.

    “Some gunmen have killed one Imoh Etuk from Ikot Akpa Edem in Ukanafun Local Government Area. He ran to Usung Antia, the neighbouring village where the wife’s family lives. He went home to pick some food items from his farm.

    They intercepted and shot him dead. Nobody lives in Ikot Akpa Edem anymore. The village is now desolate,” he explained.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko McDon Ogbeche, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Ukanafun.

    Read Also: Cultists invade Police Station, frees detainees in Delta

  • Cultists kill commercial tricyclist in Bayelsa

    Cultists operating as thugs in the popular Tombia Market, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have stabbed a commercial driver of a tricyclist, Keke Napep, to death in their failed attempt to rob him.

    The police, Thursday, said the suspects attempted to rob the victim, who hailed from the north, but killed him for resisting them.

    It was gathered that the killing caused tension in the area, forcing traders to close shops and run to different directions for safety.

    Colleagues and kinsmen of the victim were said to have gone berserk and later stabbed a youth they believed was one of the suspects to death.

    Fear of reprisal spread but the Central Zone leadership of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC),     the Bayelsa Volunteers and security agencies immediately intervened to restore order.

    The IYC Chairman, Mr. Tare Porri, immediately led a delegation to meet the kinsmen of the victim and sympathise with them.

    Porri asked them to remain calm and resist the temptation of taking laws into their own hands adding that crimes had no colour and tribe.

    He, however, complained about the nefarious activities of suspected thugs in the market who were fond of extorting money from Keke operators and other innocent people.

    “In this particular case they tried to extort money from the victim. But he told them he had no money because he just came out for business.

    “They got angry and stabbed him to death. If not because of our prompt intervention, it would have led to further bloodshed. We appeal to all the people in the state to remain calm and stop taking laws into their hands whenever there is provocation”, he said.

    Porri appealed to security agencies especially the police to maintain presence in the market to stop harassment of innocent people by thugs.

    The Chairman of the Bayelsa Volunteer Service, Mr. Douye Koroye, condemned the killing of the commercial driver describing it as barbaric.

    Koroye, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths urged youths to quit crime and take advantage of various opportunities created by the state government to make decent living.

    He commiserated with the deceased family  and asked security agencies to investigate the incident and bring the suspected cultists to justice.

    He said: “We call on the youths to be law-abiding, patriotic and responsible. Our governor has shown capacity to develop the youths. This is a youth government and we advise the youths to desist from crime and take advantage of the opportunities created for them by the government.

    “We warn that persons, who engage in cultism, are risking their lives. We have a new law in the state that stipulates stringent punishments for them. Cultists should renounce their membership now and embrace peace”.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said some persons had been identified and would soon, be arrested for investigations.

    He asked kinsmen of the victim to maintain the peace adding that persons who committed the heinous crime would face prosecution.

    Read Also: Cultists nabbed while robbing to bail arrested Leader

  • Suspected cultists, police clash in Bayelsa

    There was confusion yesterday at Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, following a clash between police and gunmen suspected to be cultists.

    It was learnt that the gunmen overran Oporoma Police Division, and set the building ablaze.

    The policemen escaped into nearby creeks.

    It was gathered that a policeman was injured.

    Others went into hiding waiting for reinforcement.

    Police Commissioner Don Awunah, on assumption of duty, launched operations to tackle cultists.

    The clash was reportedly caused by a failed attempt by a suspected cult leader to escape from police custody.

    The suspect, said to be on the police wanted list, following his alleged involvement in kidnapping, robbery and pipeline vandalism; was shot by policemen on duty while trying to escape.

    His colleagues were said to have regrouped and attacked the police station.

    Command spokesman Butswat Asinim, who confirmed the incident, said a reinforcement had been sent to the area.

    He said: “Preliminary report indicates that a suspected cultist on the police wanted list for crimes such as kidnapping, robbery and pipeline vandalism was arrested and detained at Oporoma Police Division in Southern Ijaw Local Government, preparatory to his transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yenagoa.

    “The suspect on March 21 attempted to escape and was shot by the officer on duty.

    “Other members of the suspect’s cult mobilised and attacked officers on duty at the police division. They set ablaze the building. Additional policemen were deployed to restore peace.

    “There seems to be emergence of cultism in Bayelsa State. We urge the public to volunteer information and assist the police in eradicating cultism among youths.”

    Disturbed by activities of cultists, the House of Assembly yesterday began the amendment of anti-secret cult law to increase the jail terms of persons convicted of cultism to 20 years.

    The motion to amend the law was moved by the Leader, Mr. Peter Akpe, representing Sagabama II .

    The document gave the police legal backing to search any vehicle suspected to carry illegal arms and ammunition, and the magistrate power to remand any suspect arrested for cult-related activities for 30 days.

    The amendment will empower the governor to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of any property or premises used to hold meetings of suspected cultists.

    Deliberating on the Secret Cult/Societies and Similar Activities Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the lawmakers condemned increase in cultism and killings.

    They said the amendment would empower security personnel to tackle suspected cultists.

    Akpe said: “At inception in 2012, the present administration silenced secret cult activity with the passage of the Secret Cult Prohibition Bill. But now, the bill seems not to have achieved the desired effect. It is to be strengthened because the government wants a peaceful society.”

  • ‘Cultists’ cut off corps member’s hand

    Suspected cultists on Sunday attacked youth corps members’ lodge at Angalabiri community, Sagbama Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    The hoodlums were said to have cut off a corps member’s left hand.

    The victim, Luntis Julius from Taraba State, was reportedly attacked with a machete.

    The hoodlums were said to have robbed the corps members of laptops and phones.

    The Nation learnt that the incident, which occurred about 2:30a.m., caused panic among corps members serving in Sagbama Local Government.

    A corps member, who spoke in confidence, lamented constant attacks by armed youths.

    He said: “We are at the mercy of hoodlums. Female corps members are harassed on a daily basis.”

    Recently at a stakeholders’ workshop organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Coordinator, Mrs. Loto Bolade, implored employers of corps members to put facilities in place to address their security and welfare.

    She said: “Corps members are your children during the one year they are posted to your establishments. It is your responsibility to give them accommodation with security, the same you give to your children.”

    Police spokesman Butswat Asinim confirmed the attack. He said it is a case of burglary.

    Asinim said the hoodlums stole the corps members’ belongings and attacked one of them with a machete.

    He said the police arrested two of the suspects, adding that investigations were on to nab others.

  • Police arrest 18 suspected armed robbers, cultists in Bayelsa

    OPERATIVES of Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested 10 suspected cultists and eight suspected armed robbers during various operations across the state. The command also recovered one AK47 riffle, sevenlocally made pistols, four locally-made single-barrelled guns, a stolen saloon car, three cutlasses, eight live cartridges, cannabis and packets of tramadol. Parading the suspects and the recovered items, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Don Awunah, said the feat was achieved following his decision to flag off, Operation Safer Bayelsa, immediately he assumed office few weeks ago. Awunah fingered cultism as a driving force for most criminal activities in the state explaining that cultism permeated the ranks of misguided youths and induced them to engage in criminality.

    He identified the major cult groups operating in the state as Icelanders, Greenlanders, Bobos, De Bam, De Well, Black Axe and the Vikings. He said the command had recorded huge successes in its war against cultism following a newly created Anti-Cultism Unit at the State Crime Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID). He disclosed that a crack team of the police foiled an attempt by three cultists, Gospel Peter; Chijioke Egi and Felix Obeni to initiate one Henry Chukwu at Igbogene area of the state. The police chief said that youths of Ologi community in collaboration with the police nabbed Joe Gilbert, Moses Look-Me and James Okafor, terrorising the community.

  • Police arrest three suspected cultists

    Police arrest three suspected cultists

    The police in Ebonyi State have arrested three suspected cultists for allegedly killing a 19-year-old boy, Michael Okoro.

    Okoro, according to the police, was killed at Oroko Onuoha in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, when two cult groups clashed.

    Police spokesperson Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.

    She, however, said the victim was not killed, but died from injuries sustained after a clash between Junior Python and Black Pander cults.

    Odah said: “Cultists clashed at Oroke-Onuoha. The police nabbed three of them. One person died in the clash.

    “He was not murdered, he died during the clash. He lived at Kpirikpiri but was not killed in the place. One person was injured. He later died. The arrested suspects confessed that it was a cult clash. We have started investigation.”

    The victim’s mother, Mrs. Clara Okoro, denied that his son was a cultist.

    Speaking from her 3, Muoneke Street, Abakaliki home,  she claimed that her son worked in a cement factory at Nkalagu.

    Okoro, in a pensive mood, said the deceased took care of his three siblings.

    She said: “My son returned from office. He brought money to pay the WAEC fee of his younger brother as he promised.

    “He gave me the money before going to watch a football match that evening. He didn’t return that night.

    “In the morning, I went to pay the WAEC fee. When I returned, I still didn’t see him. I became worried. Somebody later told me that Michael had been killed.

    “I don’t know if he quarrelled with anyone because he did not live here, but in Nkalagu where he worked.”

  • Suspected cultists held for ‘gang raping’ school girls

    Suspected cultists held for ‘gang raping’ school girls

    The Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) yesterday paraded six suspected cultists accused of abducting and gang raping school girls.

    Yinka Adewuyi, 18, Kayode Damilare, 20, Aigoro Muyideen, 20,  Idogun Yinusa, 21, Laguda Kamal, 18, and Quadri Ajala, 22, – all former students of King Ado Senior School, Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), were paraded by the agency’s board chairman, Israel Ajao, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) at the safety arena in Bolade, Oshodi.

    According to Ajao, the suspects were apprehended over the weekend following intelligence report that they had held an SS3 pupil hostage for four days.

    He said the efforts of the agency to contain criminality, especially the menace of cultism in secondary schools were yielding results, adding that the latest suspects were apprehended using covert and overt operations.

    According to Ajao, the suspects were in the habit of ambushing teenage girls around their schools and raping them.

    He said they would coerce their victims into joining their cult, Supreme Boys Nation, blindfold and take turns in raping them.

    Ajao said gang raping their victims was the climax of the initiation, adding that they told the girls they would become angels and threatened them not to disclose their ordeal or they would be killed.

    Appealing to parents to be watchful of their children, Ajao said the agency would not relent in containing cultism because cults were breeding grounds for criminals.

    He said some of the victims were rescued from the suspects’ hideout and that medical examinations were done on them to ensure they had not been infected with Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and were not pregnant.

    Narrating her ordeal, a victim said the boys  had been raping her since the last Ramadan.

    She told reporters that it was Damilare who first lured her to a park in their neighbourhood, adding that she was forced to kneel down, stripped and raped.

    Saliu said: “Damilare is my senior in school. We used to play together. So, I did not suspect anything the day he told me to come to the place. I followed him there but the next thing, he and three of his friends surrounded me and forced me to kneel down.

    “They blind folded me and spat a peppery substance on my body. They now said I should pull off my clothes and they raped me one after the other. Then, they warned me that if I should tell anyone, they will kill me.

    “This was last year. Since then, they have been raping me. Most times, they would come to my school gate and threaten me to follow them. They will lock me up for three or four days and they will be raping me. I was afraid to tell anyone because they threatened me. They have other gang members who have not been arrested. Those one usually threatened me in school everyday.”

    The other victim said only Adewuyi did not rape her.

    She said  Adewuyi  removed her blindfold, while Damilare and two others at large raped her.

    However, the suspects denied the allegations, claiming that the victims were their lovers and they had consensual intercourse.

    The suspects also claimed they never slept with the victims at once, insisting that each slept with them at different locations and times.

  • Over 200 youths renounce cultism in Lagos

    Over 200 youths renounce cultism in Lagos

    More than 200 youths on Monday surrendered arms and ammunition after renouncing their membership of different cult groups in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

    The ceremony, which took place at the palace of the Ikorodu monarch, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, was attended by the state Police Commissioner, Edgal Imohimi and heads of other security agencies.

    According to Imohimi, arms surrendered by the youths included 15 locally made long guns, 30 bullets, 11 cutlasses, four axes, four double-barrel guns, five short locally made pistols and a sword.

    He said the development was as a result of the community policing and community partnership put together by the state police command.

    He assured the repented cultists that the command would do all within its might to ensure Ikorodu was rid of criminality.

    Imohimi said: “Today, we are in Ikorodu at the instance of our royal father and his lieutenants to take over these arms and ammunition that belong to members of major cult groups who renounced such confraternity.

    “We have identified leaders of Aiye, Aye and Buccaneer, who have come out with their over 200 members to give up arms.  What is happening here is that jointly, we are making history. All these weapons have been voluntarily handed over by cultists who have renounced membership and have pledged to build Ikorodu and allow peace and security to reign.

    “These arms are weapons of destruction and I am happy you volunteered to relinquish them. They would be sent to police armoury. I heard that there are still few persons in your midst, who do not want to join this drive to shun cultism. Be vigilant and do not allow them to carry out their activities in Ikorodu.

    “I have told my men here to partner you in order to arrest such persons. I know you have fears and uncertainties but I can assure that there is a process. Your renunciation is the first step. Thereafter, the oba will approach the local government chairman to train you in vocational skills before your reintegration into the society.

    “There would also be opportunities for soft loans to establish your vocational trade. Ikorodu is the fastest growing part of Lagos and the world is concerned about what is happening here.

    “I hereby call on youths of other communities in Lagos to renounce cultism. I am also appealing to youths to shun hard drugs. If you take these drugs, you won’t have a bright future. Do not allow drug dealers to rob you of your future.

    “Anywhere you find a drug dealer in Ikorodu, report to the police and the person would be arrested.”

     

     

  • Police nab 16 cultists, seven child traffickers in A’Ibom

    Police nab 16 cultists, seven child traffickers in A’Ibom

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command in January recorded a major breakthrough in combating all forms of crime in the state.

    Within last month alone, the police in the state arrested 16 suspected cultists, seven child traffickers and 4 armed robbery suspects.

    According to a statement issued Wednesday in Uyo by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko MacDon DSP, the 16 suspected cultists were apprehended on January 21st following a tip-off obtained from a text message from a suspect in police custody.

    The text message, the police spokesman said read, “Greetings sir, with due respect the trench town will sit out today @ Hero’s World Hotel, Itu road, by 7pm-sheriff”.

    He said upon the receipt of the information police operatives swung into action and cordoned off the premises of the said hotel leading to the arrest of the suspects.

    The PPRO disclosed that the suspects who are members of the Klan Kulus Klub (KKK) were been invited for a meeting at the hotel, adding that one locally made revolver pistol was recovered while the suspects have been charged to court.

    MacDon also disclosed that seven persons have been arrested by the police in connection with the sale of a one month baby at the cost of N400, 000.

    ” On 20th January, 2018, through a credible intelligence, one Eno Archibong Emah, ‘f’ of Ikot Eman Itam in Itu local government area who gave birth to a baby boy on 12th November, 2017 conspired with one Emmanuel Akpabio Okon ‘m’ and sold the one-month child to one Kate ‘f’ of Abia state for four hundred thousand naira”.

    He mentioned that four other accomplices to the crime have also been nabbed and would be arraigned in court.

    The police spokesman also revealed that 4 persons have been arrested by the police for allegedly stealing a Xtera jeep.

  • Residents tackle police over robberies, killings in Bayelsa

    Residents tackle police over robberies, killings in Bayelsa

    Residents, Saturday, carpeted the police in Bayelsa State, following widespread armed robberies, assassinations and killings in various parts of Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The residents accused the police command of failing to justify their presence in the state and the huge investments the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, said he had made on security.

    They wondered why crime rates had increased in the state a few weeks after the state government equipped the state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo with many patrol vans.

    Cultists, armed robbers and hired assassins are having a field day killing, maiming and stealing at will.

    Within a month, the state Chairman of Cattle Breeders Association (CBA), Alhaji Jubril Abdulkarim and three of his employees were assassinated in Yenagoa.

    A former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr. Ayakeme Masa, was murdered in his house in cold blood by unidentified gunmen.

    A female reporter with the African Independent Television (AIT), Owei Patience, iOS still bathing for her life in a Government House Hospital, Yenagoa, after she was robbed and shot at close range by unknown persons.

    The aggrieved residents further decried nefarious activities of cultists, who have formed the habit of trooping to the streets to rob, shoot and kill helpless people.
    Their evil activities led to the killing of a 30-year-old man identified as Ifiemie and shooting of a policeman in mufti in Ekeki area of Yenagoa on Wednesday.

    They also lamented constant attacks on travelers along the waterways by pirates, which recently led to the brutal killing of Asuku, a former Chairman of the Maritime Workers’ Union (MWU), Akassa unit.

    A resident, Ayemi Pat, reeled out some of the incidents of criminality and appealed to security agencies especially the police to arrest the ugly trend.

    He said: “About five weeks, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen in broad daylight shot and almost killed Ebitmi Boss, a.k.a Timiya at the gate of his house at Biogbolo Yenagoa.

    “Only recently armed robbers successfully robbed one miss Owei of AIT, assigned to Government House after shooting her. She would have died but for the timely assistance of some good spirited Nigerians who rushed her to the hospital.

    “No day passes without one incident of robbery or assassination in Yenagoa for the past three or four months. This is not palatable considering the size of Yenagoa, and something urgent must be done to nip this ugly situation in the bud. Yenagoa, the State capital, is becoming too scary to live in”.

    Also a youth leader and activist, Wisdom Ikuli, told security agencies to do their job and stop what he described as worsening security situation in Yenagoa.

    He asked them to return the state to the security it enjoyed during the first term in office of Dickson.

    He said: “The waterways in Bayelsa State especially Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas have become impassable.

    “They are now ‘No- Go-Areas’. There is hardly a week that passes without incidents of sea piracy and murder of innocent, defenseless poor passengers and local traders.
    “Bayelsa State especially Yenagoa Metropolis is fast becoming a dead zone. The daily cases of assassinations and deaths resulting from armed robbery is alarming and becoming too worrisome”.

    Also, the Head of News, Rhythm FM, Oyins Engrebido, lamented how armed robbers almost killed the Head of Station, Silverbird Rhythm 94.7, Mr. Peter on Thursday.
    He said: “Three Armed robbers with pump action and revolver pistol just robbed the Head of Station Silverbird Rhythm 94.7 Yenagoa Mr. Peter at the NNPC filling station by Redeem church.

    “They robbed him of his valuables at the presence of other road users and threatened to shoot him. What’s happening in Bayelsa?”

    Another resident, Akik Olali, said: “In this Yuletide season, most people are now very afraid of going to the bank for fear of being trailed by these armed rubbers.

    “Everywhere is just dry,I mean no sign of Christmas anywhere, yet these boys won’t allow people to enjoy the little they have. I urge the security agencies to up their game”.

    But the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, has within two months paraded hundreds of suspected criminals and assorted rifles recovered from them.

    The police boss blamed rising crimes in the state on the insatiable quest for money during the Yuletide.

    He further said the the recent surge was caused by the proliferation of small arms lamenting that people were in possession of illegal weapons.

    He said: “As a matter of fact, I agreed with you that there is a rise in crime. One it could be as a result of the greed of the Yuletide but we have been planning all through the year, not only in this period.

    ‘I can authoritatively tell you that there are a lot of small weapons with people and the people have wrong perception about cultism.

    ” The state government is trying to come out with a policy where it could address issues relating to cultism, to encourage people to denounce cultism and encourage people to lay down their weapons.

    “Cultisms is becoming a thing of pride for people to get themselves involved and you also know that there is thin line between cultism and armed robbery is very close. Most of these cases are nothing but revenge missions, especially for the younger one.

    “You create a problem somewhere and other people come out to revenge. We have been trying to sensitize the people, we had made a sizeable recovery of arms and by Monday l will showcase the numbers of arms we had recovered from individuals and groups but unfortunately there is a slow pace in prosecution but thank God the governor and the judiciary have seen the need to fast-track their prosecutions.

    “The state government is trying to come out with a policy where it could address issues relating to cultism, to encourage people to denounce cultism and encourage people to lay down their weapons”.
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