The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultists

  • Suspected cultists attack ex-union leader

    Immediate past Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, Adegbola Oduyemi has been allegedly attacked by suspected cult members in his hostel. He was reportedly macheted on the head.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the assailants invaded Adegbola’s hostel on Friday evening. They also carted away some of his belongings.

    Adegbola, a 500-Level Law student, said the suspected cultists asked him  questions on phone, after which they demanded N200,000 as “due”. According to him, the assailants pounced on him with cutlasses.

    He said: “I don’t know them. When they called me on phone, I told them I could not answer any of their questions. I asked them to identify themselves, but they showed up in my hostels. Before I know what was going on, they came in numbers and attacked me with cutlasses.”

    The ex-students’ leaders said the assailants accused him of influencing the decision of the current SUG leadership led by Olawale Ijanusi to bar secret cult groups’ activities. A claim he denied.

    Adegbola was rescued by the police, who moved to the scene after a distress call. Two suspects have been detained.

    Adegbola advised students to be security-conscious and report unusual movements around them to the police.

    A member of the police team, who rescued the ex-students’ leader, confirmed the arrest to CAMPUSLIFE. He said the suspects would be charged to court after police investigation.

     

  • Two killed, others injured as cultists attack night club in Ogun

    Two persons were killed and others injured in an attack on a night club in Ijebu – Igbo, Ogun State, by people suspected to be cultists, who shot into the crowded club on Friday night. The Nation gathered that the incident happened around 9:30pm when the fun seekers were in high spirit, drinking and dancing.

    It was gathered further that bullets allegedly struck two of the fun seekers, including one Seun Abana, dead while some others were also injured in the ensuing stampede. An eye witness told The Nation that the remains of the dead were evacuated on Saturday morning by Police Operatives from the Police Divisional Headquarters, Ijebu – Igbo.

    But the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the attack on the night club, said one person – Seun Abana, was shot dead. Abimbola said the assailants stormed the club, identified the victim and shot him. He added that the Police is conducting an investigation into the incident to unmask the identity of the killer, expressing confidence that the Police would get the killer.

  • Rivers group to governor: we’re not cultists

    Rivers group to governor: we’re not cultists

    A group of Rivers State illustrious indigenes, under the aegis of True Rivers Initiative (TRI), has faulted Governor Nyesom Wike’s alleged public branding of its members as cultists.

    TRI described the governor’s action as “incorrigible lies”.

    The pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) group, last Sunday, swore in its national officers to woo more members for the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

    It also faulted the governor for saying its members were sponsored by Transportation Minister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to cause mayhem in the state.

    In a statement by its President-General Lucky Omenka and Publicity Secretary Gift Okpara, TRI said Wike was wrong to have labelled its members as cultists.

    It noted that the governor’s comments were unjust and unbefitting of his office.

    The group said Wike’s comments were laughable because they typified the governor’s style of diverting public attention from his “abysmal performance” for two years in office.

    The statement wondered why the governor always raised false alarm about APC matters, especially the party and Amaechi, the party leader in Rivers State and the Southsouth.

    TRI urged Nigerians and Rivers State residents to ignore Wike for his alleged frivolous comments.

    The group said the governor had become associated with comics and deceit.

    It reminded Wike of the alleged lies he recently told Rivers residents.

    TRI warned him to respect the exalted office he occupies and desist from spreading falsehood because he would someday appear before God for judgment.

    It said: “We already know that Governor Wike is used to telling lies. It is most unfortunate that an incorrigible liar is the governor of our dear State. But we take solace in God because in two years, Rivers electorate will vote you out of Brick House as they can’t afford to have an incorrigible liar govern them for a second term.

    “While we advise the governor to desist from this regular practice, we make bold to say that as a people from a Christian State, we cannot afford to have you again for a second term because we will collectively vote you out with our Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in the next governorship election.

    “Again, for record purposes, we make bold to state here that the True Rivers Initiative is not a cult group and does not have any link whatsoever with any cult or cult-related group in any part of the world.

    “We are a law-abiding group and loyal members of the APC. We will support our party to mobilise for the 2019 general election when the time comes and we are also not intimidated by your ranting…”

     

  • NSCDC arrests six suspected fraudsters, cultists in Ondo

    NSCDC arrests six suspected fraudsters, cultists in Ondo

    Ondo State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Tuesday arrested six persons suspected to be cultists and fraudsters in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The spokesman of the command, Kayode Balogun said the suspects who had been terrorizing the people of the state were arrested after a tipoff.

    The suspects are Akeem Oyewole (28), Dupe Adewole (30), Oni Abiodun (33), Abiodun Oladimeji (21), Aron Sunday (20) and Anes John (28).

    According to him, the leader of the gang, Akeem Oyewole was arrested by men of the Corps after successfully duping a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo identified as Omokehinde Idowu.

    He said the fraudsters allegedly duped Idowu while on his way to the campus, and took him to their hide out where they collected his #58,000 school fees, a techno phone and wallet which contains school Identity card and Voters card from him.

    The spokesman alleged that the suspects hypnotized a 17-year old, Motunrayo who was asked to bring her parent money for them after being threatened to be killed if she declined their order.

    One of the suspects, Oni Abiodun, according to Balogun was arrested for buying a stolen phone from a member of the gang, while Aron Sunday was arrested for alleged cultism.

    He disclosed that all the suspects were still under investigation and would be charged to court immediately after investigation.

    Balogun warned criminals to steer clear of the state or face the full wrath of the law.

  • Pandemonium as cultists clash in Lagos

    Pandemonium as cultists clash in Lagos

    There was confusion at Idioro, Lagos on Monday morning when suspected cultists clashed in the area.

    police arrested several people, recovered bags of marijuana and other exhibits .

     

    Fight was said to have started Sunday evening during which many people were injured.

    It is not yet certain if anybody died in the fracas.

    Another fight is also reported to be on in the Hausa community in Ijegun.

     

    Shops and schools have been reportedly closed due to sporadic gunshots .

    Details later…

  • Security expert advises Ogoni cultists to embrace amnesty

    A Port Harcourt security expert, Dr. Destiny Abolo, has advised cultists in Ogoni land, Rivers State, to embrace the amnesty granted by the government and surrender their arms.

    Speaking yesterday with News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt, he said the cultists should stop killing and surrender their weapons.

    The government had granted amnesty to the cults, but those in Ogoni land refused to embrace it.

    It said it gave a second chance to Ogoni cultists and urged them to repent.

    Cults’ clashes have increased in the area, leading to loss of life and property.

    Abolo said it was retrogressive and risky for cultists to refuse amnesty offer by the government.

    “Is it wise to refuse to embrace amnesty and kill one another, your brothers, your sisters and your parents?” he asked.

    The security expert urged them to emulate their colleagues in other parts of the state, who surrendered their arms.

    He hailed the government for giving them a second chance, saying the gesture would promote security and ensure peace.

    Abolo urged monarchs, community leaders and parents to advise their children, who belong to cults, to embrace the government gesture.

  • Police arrest 13 suspected cultists in Ilorin

    The Kwara State Police Command said it arrested 13 persons in connection with the three-day cult clashes in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Eight persons allegedly died while several others were injured in the supremacy battle between two rival cult groups.

    Areas affected by the onslaught include Oyun, Ikokoro, Osere, Olunlade, Niger, Kilanko, Olufadi, Egebejila and Ita –Ogunbo. But the police said only three persons died.

    Spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi said the suspects were arrested by men of the special armed response team.

    “After thorough interrogation of the suspects, six were found culpable,” he said.

    Okasanmi said the suspects would be arraigned in court, adding that efforts were on to nab others.

    He debunked speculations the masterminds of the clashes were members of vigilance group.

  • Cross River police commissioner vows to clamp down on cultists

    Cross River police commissioner vows to clamp down on cultists

    In the wake of the cult killings that has ravaged Calabar, the Cross River State capital, in the past week, Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, has vowed they will not rest on their oars until the problem is decisively dealt with.

    Addressing reporters in his office yesterday, Inuwa, said the police is determined to go after cultists and their sponsors that have made they city unbearable for residents.

    He assured that anyone caught in this regard would be dealt with within the provisions of the law irrespective of whoever it is.

    “My Command is on top of the situation. We are not just sitting down,” he said.

    Highlighting some of the Command’s achievement in combating crime in the state recently, he said 15 persons were arrested for various crimes including armed robbery, cultism, car snatching, piracy, dealing in adulterated cement and causing threat to law and order.

    Also recovered in connection to these crimes were three local made pistols, two beretta pistols, three 9mm live ammunitions, two matchetes, one axe, one Murano SUV, one Toyota RAV4 SUV, one Toyota Corolla car and two Mack Trucks.

    He said the suspects who had confessed to their crimes would be charged to court.

    Inuwa assured members of the public that the Command “has the capacity, capability and wherewithal to deal with any miscreant who may dare to harass, intimidate and instill fear in the minds of Cross Riverians.”

    He sued for the public’s cooperation, support and understanding, in providing useful information that could lead to the arrest of hoodlums and crime perpetrators.

     

  • 35 cultists, 87 others face trial

    35 cultists, 87 others face trial

    One hundred and twenty-two persons have been tried by the Lagos State Government for constituting themselves into public nuisance.

    Among them are 87 miscreants and 35 cult members.

    They were arrested during overnight operations between Thursday and Friday.

    The raid was carried out by Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) operatives around Idi-Oro, Akala and Mushin.

    They were tried by Magistrates Ojuromi Tosin and Patrick Uwaka of the Lagos State Environmental Courts, Oshodi.

    A statement by the agency said the raids followed public report of security threats around those areas.

    It said the 35 cultists were arrested along with their gang leader, Sanju Agbabiaka, aka ‘120’, at mid-night while they were recruiting new members into their group around Akala.

    The suspects, it said, belonged to a group called Omije Boys.

    They were said to have dispossessed people of their valuables and raped women, particularly young girls.

    It said 10 women and 15 teenagers were among the suspects, adding that a para-military officer attached to the agency was injured with broken bottles during the raids.

    A 17-year-old suspect, the agency claimed, said he was lured into the cult group last September after he dropped out of school.

    The task force said the boy confessed that they were involved in various criminal activities, adding that he was released from Lagos State Remand Home on February 18 after he and his friend were caught during a robbery.

    Tobi Atewogbola, 20, who was arrested at Idi-oro around 2am told the agency that he belongs to a three-man gang that specialises in dispossessing people of their valuables particularly phones and bags at Oshodi.

    The teenagers were ordered to be taken to Lagos Remand Home, Oregun.

  • 15 suspected cultists arrested in Ondo

    Fifteen suspected secret cult members have been arrested by the police in Akure , the Ondo State capital.

    The suspects were said to have been arrested during the Yuletide.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the suspects were arrested at various locations in the town.

    He listed them as Olamiju Abiodun (25); Adejuyigbe Joshua (22); Tayo Agboola (22); Orebe Boluwaji (33); Oluwadara Akinbobola (17); Oluwaseun Olajide (21); Adesina Olasunkanmi (18) and Alaba Raji (19).

    Others are Ajibola Olanrewaju (25); John Isaac (18);  Haruna Friday (18); Omotoso Shina (26); Ekene Ereozo(25);  Matthew Ogu (36) and Uche Odoh (30).

    Joseph said: “Some of them were arrested during the initiation of new members; others were arrested at their meetings.

    “Various weapons were recovered from them, including axes, cutlasses, matchetes, cut-to-size locally-made pistols and charms among others.

    “They have been charged to court and were remanded in prison custody.”