The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultists

  • Pirates, cultists kill two in Bayelsa

    Rampaging pirates and cultists have struck in Bayelsa State, killing two in Ekeki, Yenagoa, and the Akassa-Yenagoa waterways.

    About 10 cultists shot and robbed people of cash and valuables in Ekeki 7.30 pm on Wednesday.

    Business owners were said to have shut down their shops.

    A victim simply identified as Ifiemie, 30-year-old son of an Ekeki chief, was reportedly shot dead.

    A policeman was also shot by the hoodlums. The unidentified policeman, in mufti, was said to be coming out of the salon.

    He hails from Ndoni in Rivers State; he reportedly struggled with the cultists who wanted to collect his phone and cash.

    The policeman is responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    A victim of the attack by pirates, identified simply as Asuku, ex-Chairman of the Maritime Workers’ Union (MWU) in Akassa, was killed when their boat came under attack.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat confirmed the killings but said he not been briefed on the pirate incident.

    “The boy was killed as a result of a cult clash. Our earlier investigations linked the dead victim to one of the cult groups.

    “The policeman was coming out of a barber’s salon when hoodlums, passing by, struck. They dispossessed him of his phone because he was off duty. He tried to resist but they shot him. He is responding to treatment”, he said.

    Asuku was killed barely 24 hours after the death of a boat operator on the Sangana-Igbemotoru waterways.

  • Kwara Police Command parades alleged cultists, kidnappers, armed robbers

    The Kwara Police Command on Friday paraded eight suspects over alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, being a member of secret cult and unlawful possession of firearms.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawan Ado, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the Police Headquarters in Ilorin.

    He listed the accused persons as – Qudus Alaya, Yusuf Olatunji, Salami Adesola, Sunday Oluwatobilola, Ridwan Musa, Sodiq Bakare, Quadri Adele and Johnpaul Nditusi.

    He said that the accused persons were arrested for allegedly killing of Allen Ahmed, Alimi Aliyu, Mumini Omo Alhaja and one Yusuf on Nov. 2 at Oke-Foma area of Ilorin.

    He said that one single barrel locally made gun, one double barrel locally made gun and five live cartridges were recovered from them.

    Ado also said that eight suspects were arrested for kidnapping one Usman Muhammed at Sabo-Osi in Ekiti Division and collected N500, 000 ransom from his family.

    He said that the suspects confessed to the crime.

    Ado said that N361, 150 being part of ransom collected from the victim’s family, two single barrel guns, seven mobile phones and dangerous charms were recovered from them.

    According to him, Jimoh Idowu and Taiye Plumber were arrested for dispossessing one Georgina Okoye of her Honda CRV Jeep with registration number Lagos AAA 362 AG at gun point on Oct. 12 at Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin.

    He said that the vehicle was later recovered at Ajese-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government area.

    The commissioner urged the people to provide information that would help the police to curb criminal activities.

  • Bayelsa monarch declares war against cultists, illicit drugs

    Bayelsa monarch declares war against cultists, illicit drugs

    THE Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom and former Petroleum Minister, His Eminence King Edmund Daukoru, the 12th, has banned all secret cult activities and trafficking of illegal drugs in Nembe and its satellite communities. Daukoru spoke on Friday while presiding over the Nembe Council of Chiefs’ meeting where issues of cultism and drug trafficking topped the agenda He vowed that anyone caught flouting the order within his territory, would be apprehended and dealt with according to the law.

    The monarch decried negative influence of cultism and drug addiction on young people, especially in the rural communities. He called for concerted effort by governments at all levels, corporate bodies and individuals, to combat the menace and create opportunities for young people to engage in legitimate means of livelihood. The king further called for the recognition of traditional institutions in the country by tapping its wisdom, experience, moral and cultural values in resolving the nation’s problems.

    He said the traditional rulers should be empowered to get involved in issues of security in their domains through a stronger, structured role in police-community relations. “Rehabilitation programmes such as the Niger Delta Amnesty programme should have roles for the traditional institution to help monitor progress of affected community members, especially in the area of re-inte gration into their families and communities in order to prevent relapse,” he said.

    The Nembe monarch, who is also the chairman of the South-South Traditional Rulers Council, further called for the empowerment of grassroots vigilante groups. He said such groups should be assisted with communication gadgets and other necessities to enable them complement the police at the rural level. “Sensitisation in our rural areas for security and moral re-armament as well as recourse to traditional sanctions that were applied in pre-colonial times, that may be compatible with the country’s laws should be considered as ways of deterring anti-social behaviour at the grassroots levels,” he said.

  • Five die as cultists clash in Ikorodu

    Five die as cultists clash in Ikorodu

    At least five persons, including a meat vendor, were yesterday killed after suspected cultists went on rampage. The incident occurred around Night Market, Imota in Ikorodu, a Lagos district in the early hours of Friday.

    It was gathered that the fight was between members of the Aye and Eiye cult groups.

    It was learnt that the meat seller, identified as Olaitan Omo-Ibadan, was beheaded and his head dropped at the Inner Town Roundabout. A source who hinted on the incident said that most residents were leaving the neighbourhood for fear of reprisal.

    He said: “There was a fight early Friday morning at Imota. Cultists engaged in a serious fight and they killed five people. They severed the meat seller’s head, placed it on a platter and dropped it on the road.

  • Police arrest seven suspected cultists for invading station 

    The police in Bayelsa State nabbed suspected members of cult groups, who invaded Peremabiri Divisional Headquarters to release one of their members, Prince Ayibalaifa, from detention.

    The suspects reportedly injured a policeman, Corporal Elijah Osara, during the attack  in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    Commissioner of Police Mr. Asuquo Amba named the suspects as Douye Koufe, 23; Wisdom Reuben, 23; Solomon Jackson, 18; Samuel Odozi, 20; Thomas Canan, 23; Andy Daves, 24; and Junior Japhter, 23.

    He said they admitted to being members of the Greenlanders’ cult, except Douye Koufe, who claimed to belong to Icelanders.

    Amba said investigation was on, adding that the suspects will be prosecuted.

    He lamented the attack and said the police, with the assistance of the government was able to bring back civil authority in the area.

    Amba said:  ’’We still have this problem of cult activities within our environment. Of late, we tried to nip this problem in the bud, but we still see that we have not completely succeeded. The arrest is continuous.

    ‘’Peremabiri Divisional Headquarters is one of the new facilities we are trying to bring up because the place was ransacked by militants, then we want to bring back civil authority to the area.

    ‘’With the assistance of the government, we have been able to bring back civil authority but we still find out that there are some cultists that are still disturbing.

    ‘’About seven cultists from Greenlanders and Icelanders were apprehended. They invaded the police station to rescue Prince Ayibalaifa, who was detained for indecent assault. They actually rescued the person and escaped, but they were re-arrested.’’

  • Cultists attack four LASPOTECH students

    Cultists attack four LASPOTECH students

    FOUR students of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Ikorodu, were on Monday night injured during an attack by suspected cultists numbering about 20.

    The cultists attacked the students’ at night at their Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

    Most of the students were asleep when the attackers arrived.

    The students were identified as Masud Sanusi, Sherif Muhammad, Kazeem Adebayo and Salawu Jamiu.

    The Nation learnt that earlier in the day, the cultists visited the premises claiming to be looking for a rival cultist and some items he might have hidden there.

    When they did not find anything, they left but returned around 9pm and started attacking occupants of the hostile.

    According to the state’s MSSN President, Dr. Saheed Ashafa, the attack was to forcibly initiate a Muslim student.

    He said: “Our members in Ikorodu were attacked by cultists in their hostel last night (Monday). According to the report sent to me on Tuesday, they (the attackers) were actually trying to initiate a brother (Muslim student) in Ordinary National Diploma (OND) one (part-time).

    “So, they wanted to intimidate the MSSN hostel where he resides to get their way. I was informed that the cultists have been threatening him from school with the support of a lecturer.

    “They had access to the hostel at first by claiming that they are searching for their missing item but later said they were looking for a student who usually hangs around the hostile.

    “They left and around 9pm, returned numbering about 20 and started attacking our brothers. One was seriously injured and three others sustained minor injuries.

    “When I got there four of the suspects had been arrested and handed over to the school security. They were interrogated and released but the school management said they would investigate the matter and get all those involved.

    “They said they allowed them to go because they need to get all those who took part in the attack. They also said that some of the suspects already had previous cases hanging on their necks.”

    Irked by the attack, MSSN LASPOTECH chapter described the attack as “injustice of the greatest order”, which they would not condone.

    Meanwhile the police said 13 suspected members of the Eiye confraternity were arrested yesterday in Lekki.

    They were arrested around 12am, at Last Quarters, Jakande Estate, where they were having a meeting.

    It was gathered that detectives had earlier caught one Felix Balogun, who burgled the home of one Tunji in a bid to rob.

    He confessed to being a member of the cult group and led detectives to Last Quarters, where the others were apprehended.

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the suspects had been terrorising and robbing residents of Jakande Estate and Ilasan.

    “The said Balogun led a team of policemen to their criminal hideout at Last Quarters by Ontop Sand, Jakande Estate, where 12 suspects were rounded up in their meeting room.

    “They confessed to having guns and other dangerous weapons. Further investigation led to the recovery of weapons from their hideout.”

  • Cultists attack, injure four LASPOTECH students 

    Cultists attack, injure four LASPOTECH students 

    …Police arrest 13

     

    Suspected cultists numbering about 20 Monday night stormed the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) hostile at Ikorodu injuring four.

    Those injured were said to be students of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, who were asleep at the time their attackers struck.

    They were identified as Masud Sanusi, Sherif Muhammad, Kazeem Adebayo and Salawu Jamiu.

    It was gathered that the cultists had earlier stormed the premises in the guise of looking for a rival cultist and some items he might have dropped there.

    The Nation learnt that when they did not see anything, the hoodlums left only to return around 9pm and started attacking occupants of the hostile.

    According to the state’s MSSN President, Dr. Saheed Ashafa, the attack was to forcefully initiate a Muslim student.

    He said: “Our members in Ikorodu were attacked by cultists in their hostel last night (Monday). According to the report sent to me on Tuesday, they (the attackers) were actually trying to initiate a brother (Muslim student) in Ordinary National Diploma (OND) one (part time).

    “So they wanted to intimidate the MSSN hostel where he resides to get their way. I was informed that the cultists have been threatening him from school with the support of a lecturer.

    “They had access to the hostel at first by claiming that they are searching for their missing item but later said they were looking for a student who usually hung around the hostile.

    “They left and around 9pm, returned numbering aboit 20 and started attacking our brothers. One was seriously injured and three others sustained minor injuries.

    “When I got there four of the suspects have been arrested and handed over to the school security.  They were interrogated and released but the school management said they would investigate the matter and get all those involved.

    “They said they allowed them to go because they need to get all those who took part in the attack. They also said that some of the suspects already have previous cases hanging on their necks.”

    Irked by the attack, MSSN LASPOTECH chapter described the attack as injustice of the greatest order, which they would not condone.

    This is just as the Police said they arrested 13 suspected members of the Eiye confraternity in Lekki.

    They were arrested around 12am, at Last Quarters, Jakande Estate, where they were having a meeting.

    It was gathered that detectives had earlier caught one Felix Balogun, who burgled the home of one Tunji in a bid to rob.

    Upon arrest, he confessed to being a member of the cult group and led detectives to Last Quarters, where the others were apprehended.

    According to the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said the suspects have been terrorising and robbing residents of the Jakande Estate and Ilesan.

    He said: “The said Balogun led a team of policemen to their criminal hideout at Last Quarters by Ontop Sand, Jakande Estate, where 12 suspects were rounded up in their meeting room.

    “They confessed to having guns and other dangerous weapons. Further investigation led to the recovery of weapons from their hideout.”

  • Suspected cultists kill monarch, two others in Akwa Ibom

    Abak Obong village in Etim Ekpo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State has been thrown into mourning.

    Gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded the community, killing three persons, including the village head and his brother.

    Sources said 10 gunmen stormed the village, attacked the palace and shot dead the monarch, Chief Bassey Ikpaisong and his brother, Mr. Fred Ikpaisong.

    Also killed was a youth, Mr. Udotim Essien.

    The incident occurred two days after four people died in a similar attack on neighbouring Udianga Enem village. Houses were torched. Residents called for increased security.

    “Right now, our village head is hospitalised. We don’t know whether he will survive because he cannot talk to people,” a source said.

    Police spokesman Chukwu Ikechukwu confirmed the incident.

  • Police arrest 31 kidnappers, cultists, robbers

    Thirty-one suspected kidnappers, cultists and robbers have been arrested by the police in Bayelsa State, following raids on criminals’ hideouts and creeks.

    Arms, ammunition and stolen items, including nine locally-made pistols, were recovered from the hoodlums after three weeks operation.

    Among the suspects was 26-year-old Temikiri Moni held for the abduction of an accountant’s wife, Joy Epidi, on July 24, on Imiringi Road, Yenagoa.

    Parading the suspects in Yenagoa, Police Commissioner Mr. Amba Asuquo said the gang, which abducted Joy, called her husband and demanded ransom.

    “Consequently, police operatives swung into action and arrested Temikri Moni, 26, about 22:45hrs in his home at Jimro Street, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.

    “The suspect had earlier called Bogbara Komoko, a businessman, threatening him to part with his N5million or his family members would be kidnapped. The victim has been released unconditionally and the suspect confessed to making such calls and demands. Efforts are on to arrest his cohorts,” he said.

    Amba said the remains of Luke Inedite, 30, who was declared missing at Agura community, were recovered by the police in a pond in the area.

    He said although investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing of Luke were on, a gang of cultists arrested by the police confessed to the murder.

    The police boss said members of the gang were among the cultists terrorising a community secondary school in Azikoro Division.

    He said in an undercover operation conducted by plain-clothes policemen,  James Loveday, an undergraduate of the Federal University, Otuoke and leader of the gang, was arrested with locally-made rifle.

    Amba said: “The interesting thing about this arrest was that on interrogation, the suspect facilitated the arrest of his gang members, namely Suoyo Francis, 20, a member of Greenland Cult and Bimobere Francis, aka Big Smoke, 21.”

    He named others as Sunday Robinson,18; Emmanuel, 20; Imimotimi Wilcot, 27; Gift Koma, 23 and Endurance Paul, said to be the supplier of hard drugs, such as Indian hemp and others, to the gang.

    Amba said a Nissan Coaster bus, stolen by criminals, registered as A 06-05BY, belonging to the Ministry of Education, was recovered by the police.

    He said the bus was snatched at gunpoint with a wooden gun by Ebi-Boy Eperi in Yenagoa.

    The police commissioner said the feat was made possible by the 45 vehicles acquired by Governor Seriake Dickson for the state’s security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo; cooperation by the public and activities of vigilance groups.

  • Police arrest 31 kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers in Bayelsa

    Police arrest 31 kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers in Bayelsa

    …Recover, arms, stolen valuables

     

    No fewer than 31 suspected kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers have been arrested by the police in Bayelsa State following raids of criminal hideouts and creeks in the state.

    Arms, ammunition and stolen items including nine locally-made pistols were recovered from the hoodlums after three-week operation.

    Among the suspects was a 26-year-old Temikiri Moni held for the abduction of an accountant’s wife, Joy Epidi, on July 24 along Imiringi Road, Yenagoa.

    Parading the suspects in Yenagoa, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amba Asuquo, said the gang that abducted Joy called her husband and demanded ransom.

    “Consequently, police operatives swung into action and arrested one Temikri Moni, 26, at about 22:45hrs at his residence in Jimro Street, Biogbolo, Yenagoa

    “The suspect had earlier called one Bogbara Komoko,  a businessman, threatening him to part with his N5million or his family members will be kidnapped. The victim has been released unconditionally and the suspect confessed to making such calls and demands. Efforts are on to arrest his cohorts”, he said.

    Amba said the remans of one Luke Inedite, 30, who was declared missing at Agura community was recovered by the police in a pond at the area.

    He said though investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing of Luke were ongoing, a gang of cultists arrested by the police confessed to the murder.

    He said members of the gang were among the cultists terrorising a community secondary school in Azikoro division of the police.

    Amba said in an undercover operation conducted by plain clothe policemen, one James Loveday, an undergraduate of the Federal University, Otuoke and leader of the gang, was arrested with locally-made revolver rifle.

    He said: “The interesting thing about this arrest was that on interrogation, the suspect led to the arrest of his gang members one Suoyo Francis, male 20yrs, a member of Greenland cult group and  one Bimobere Francis, aka Big Smoke, 21”.

    He named others as Sunday Robinson,18; Emmanuel, 20, and Imimotimi Wilcot, 27; Gift Koma, 23, and Endurance Paul, said to be the supplier of hard drugs such as indian hemp and other illicit substances to the gang.

    Amba said a Nissan Coaster bus, stolen by criminals, with registration number A 06-05BY belonging to the Ministry of Education was recovered by the police

    He said the bus was snatched at gunpoint with a wooden gun by one Ebi- Boy Eperi in Yenagoa.

    He said the feat was made possible through the 45 vehicles recently acquired by Governor Seriake Dickson for the state’s security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo; cooperation by members of the public and activities of vigilante groups.