The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultists

  • Ikorodu Fiesta: Ambode offers amnesty to cultists

    Ikorodu Fiesta: Ambode offers amnesty to cultists

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday night offered amnestyto cultists willing to renounce their membership.

    Ambode, who spoke in Ikorodu at the One Lagos Fiesta, said his administration had perfected plans to use 2017 to rehabilitate those ready to give up crimes.

    The governor said his amnesty was being offered to encourage those willing to turn away from their old ways and embrace new lives.

    He said: “In the last few months, we have been having challenges with cultism in Ikorodu and issues relating to kidnapping. So, we are going to strike a deal, we are going to say no to cultism and we are going to encourage all of you. Anybody who is a cult member, we are going to offer you amnesty. I want to use  2017 to rehabilitate those who have been doing bad things; we are going to provide money and we are going to provide jobs.

    “We are going to encourage ourselves; wherever you find somebody that is not doing anything well, you can either tell the monarch here or come to us, we will give you protection; we offer you money and then we are going to offer you automatic jobs.  So, we all agree to say no to domestic violence, kidnapping, rape and cultism. Once you sign on, we would offer you anything that you want.”

    Ambode reiterated the importance of education and hard work to the youth, and urged them to strive hard to be educated and pursue their dreams.

    He cited a popular entertainer, Folarin Falana (Falz), who is a lawyer, saying it was highly essential for young ones to be educated before thinking of other things in life.

    “What I brought to you tonight is to let you know that education is important. You can be who you want to be. If I was not a governor, I would be an accountant; if I was not an accountant, maybe I would have been an entertainer because I love music, I love arts, I love entertainment and that is why I want to encourage all of you. First, we must all be educated and then you can now use your creative talents to be who you want to be,” he said.

    Addressing the crowd, including monarchs, members of the State Executive Council, among others, Ambode urged parents to talk to their children on the need to shun crime and violence.

  • Cultists kill policeman in Ondo

    Cultists kill policeman in Ondo

    A popular policeman in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Solomon Sunday a.k.a Solozo, has been killed by suspected cultists.
    The deceased was attached to Okunta Elerinla Police Division command in Akure.
    It was learnt that Sunday (30) was reportedly shot on his way to his house at Aule.
    The killing is controversial because of the deceased’s alleged links to cultism.
    A resident of Aule said: “He is one of them. Maybe it was a rival cult group that killed him. One can’t say why he was killed.”
    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the command had begun investigation.
    He, however, did not confirm if the deceased was a member of cult or not.
    “We have begun investigation. It is a murder case. However we can’t confirm if he belonged to a cult,” Joseph said.

  • Cultists kill police officer in Akure

    A popular Police officer in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Mr. Solomon Sunday a.k.a Solozo has allegedly been  killed by cultists at Aule area.
    The deceased, who is also alleged  to be a cult member, was attached to Okunta Elerinla Police Division command in Akure.
    It was learnt that Sunday, who is 30 year-old was said to have been shot by assailants from others confraternity group.
    He was said to have been attacked on his way to his house around Aule area on last Sunday.
    It was gathered three other cult group members have had previously be killed in Akure.
    A resident of the Aule, said, ” He is one of them ( cultists) may be it was the rival cultist group that trailed and killed him just to revenge. So one can’t say yet why he was killed.”
    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph confirmed the incident  and said the command had begun investigation on it.
    He however did not confirm whether the deceased cop was a member of secret cult or not.
    ” We have commenced  investigation on the matter. It is a real murder case. However we can’t confirm if he (deceased) belonged to a secret cult but as I said we are still investigation. .” Joseph stated.
  • Cultists kill newspaper agent in Ilesa

    Cultists kill newspaper agent in Ilesa

    A newspaper agent, Saheed Eluyera, was yesterday murdered in Orogba, Ilesa, Osun State by a group of suspected cultists
    Eluyera, who is an indigene of Ile-Ife, was said to have gone out to distribute newspapers when he ran into two cult groups engaging each other in a fight.
    It was gathered that he might not be the target of the killers, who reportedly matcheted and smashed his head with stones.
    In the last one week, three persons had been killed by cultists in the state with several others injured.
    On Saturday, 22-year-old Muyideen Olabode Ibidun believed to be a “Yahoo boy” was shot dead by members of a cult group in Osogbo, the state capital.
    Also, last week, a boy simply called “Omo Emi” was killed by a cult group at old Garage in Osogbo.
    The suspected cultists were said to have broken the victim’s head with interlocking blocks.
    The Commissioner of Police, Fimihan Adeoye, assured residents that cultists would be arrested.

  • Suspected cultists kill man, 22, in Osogbo

    A 22-year old man, Muyideen Olabode Ibidun, was shot dead on Saturday evening by members of a suspected cult group in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    An Ordinary Diploma graduate of the State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Muyideen, who is popularly called by friends “Don Richiies”, “Agenda” and “Killer Boi”, was said to have been killed by six suspected cultists, who reportedly rode on two motorcyles.

    They accosted him at Ga Fulani around Sadiat in Osogbo at 6pm, where he had gone in company of his friend, simply called Skinny, to inspect a car he wanted to buy the following day.

    According to an eyewitness, Muyideen was planning a party for friends and family members yesterday to celebrate the car he wanted to buy.

    Muyideen, whose father is an iron/steel merchant and mother a nurse, last year travelled to Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia and Malaysia for two weeks to “launch” his new international passport with which he plans to travel to the United States next year.

    His remains were yesterday buried at the back of Nawarudeen Mosque at Sabo amid tears and wailing.

    A boy simply called “Omo Emi” was killed by suspected cultists at old Garage in Osogbo.

    The suspects were said to have broken the victim’s head with concrete interlocking blocks.

    The police used tear gas to disperse some boys protesting the spate of killings among rival cult groups in Osogbo at Oja Oba area as they attempted to draw the attention of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, to the development.

    There were also protests yesterday at Egbatedo Street and Sabo, where aggrieved boys erected bonfires.

    Police spokesperson Ms. Folasade Odoro said the police had begun investigations into the killing.

    She added that a suspect, Gbolahan Yusuf, has been arrested.

  • Okowa goes tough on cultists, terrorists

    Okowa goes tough on cultists, terrorists

    DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has warned there will be no hiding place for cultists and anyone involved in the act of terrorism in the state as he signed six bills, including the Delta State Anti-Cultism and Anti-Terrorism Bill 2016 into law.

    The bills which were presented to Governor Okowa for assent yesterday by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya and the Clerk of the Legislature, Mrs. Lyna Ochulor include; Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Bill 2016; Delta State Anti -terrorism and Anti cultism Bill 2016; Delta State Public Procurement Commission Bill 2016; Delta State Signage and Advertisement Agency Bill 2016; Delta State School of Nursing and Midwifery Bill 2016 and the Delta State Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy (Amendment) Bill 2016.

    Okowa stated that the Delta State Anti- Cultism and Anti-Terrorism Law: “Is important for the security of life and property in the state and our youths should know that government will not take likely any breach of security, especially people who partake in cultism and terrorism.” “I want to caution our youths to shun all forms of cultism and terrorism this yuletide period because, if they are caught, the law will take its cause, no matter the position of the person,” Governor Okowa said, disclosing that Delta State Signage and Advertisement Agency law 2016 would bring about smarter cities with proper signage regulations.

  • Police arrest four suspected cultists 

    The police in Lagos have arrested four suspected members of Awawa cult group who terrorise residents of Dopemu and environs.

    Sherif Nahim, Platelet Ismail, Jamiu  Amusa and Abel Babatunde were apprehended on Monday around 9:30am at 29, Abeje Street, Agege.

    The suspects, who were allegedly hiding in the compound, were said to have sustained varying degrees of injustice.

    It was gathered that the police received distress call that the cultists were on rampage around Kadiri and were welding dangerous weapons.

    Contacted, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the suspects have been moved to SARS custody.

    According to her, the Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni has directed that the suspects receive medical treatment in custody.

    She said: “He directed that discreet investigation be done so that other fleeing suspects could be apprehended. The suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.

    “The command would no longer tolerate any act of impunity and recklessness under any guise of cultism.”

  • 10 killed as ‘cultists’ renew attacks in Calabar

    Business premises in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, were shut yesterday following renewed killings by suspected cultists.

    Shops and offices at Bedwell Street, Bassey Duke Street, Nelson Mandela Street, Watt Market, among others, were closed down.

    Ten persons have reportedly been killed since Sunday when the fight started.

    A source said on Tuesday evening, a policeman was killed and two security vehicles were torched by suspected cultists.

    The source said two men were shot dead yesterday morning in their homes at 8 Miles in Calabar.

    Addressing reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) Tunde Gbolarumi, who held the fort for Police Commissioner Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, said on Tuesday, about 9p.m., over 60 suspected cultists clashed at Atakpa and other areas in Calabar South.

    He said in one of the battles at Bogobiri, near Queen Duke Street, two of the hoodlums were shot dead and one was arrested.

    Gbolarumi said men of the S-Squad, who carried out a joint patrol with ‘Operation Skolombo’, on Tuesday evening, at Nkwa Street, near Eyamba Street, were attacked by the suspected cultists.

    He added that Inspector Edem Archibong was killed.    “Another officer, Inspector Obonhga, was shot, but he survived. He is responding to treatment in a hospital,” Gbolarumi said.

    He said eight suspects had been arrested, adding that they would soon be arraigned.

    The deputy commissioner of police said a woman was kidnapped in her home at Satellite Town by four gunmen on Tuesday, but was rescued by the police.

    “When the abductors realised that they could not escape with the woman, they dumped her and her vehicle and bolted.”

    He warned criminals to stay away from the state and urged law-abiding citizens not to be afraid, “as we will do our best to protect life and property.”

  • Widow relives husband’s killing by suspected cultists

    A pepper seller, Omowumi Azeez, yesterday relived how her husband, Ibrahim, was killed by suspected cultists.

    The late Azeez, a commercial motorcyclist, was shot dead by suspected cultists, who robbed residents of Iyana-Odo Roundabout, Suberu-Oje area of Kola, Alagbado in Lagos last Wednesday.

    Azeez, 50, popularly called “Irinlomo” was returning to his 12, Raji Adebayo Street home, when the Eye fraternity group assaulted him. The group stormed the area around 11pm, raided some houses and carted away properties.

     According to residents, the attack was extended to Oke Abiye and Kola areas where two persons were shot dead. The group allegedly threatened to return with larger reinforcement as they were leaving the community.

     While the cause of the attack was yet to be ascertained, some residents believe it was an offshoot of discords between the Eye fraternity group and Aye cultist group based in the area. It was gathered that a similar occurrence that left a Ghanian man dead was recorded in the area.

    A distraught Mrs Azeez said her husband did not involve in any disagreement that could warrant his killing.

    She said: “I was at home and expecting my husband that night. Suddenly I heard noise around our compound that some thieves have killed an Okada man. Later, they started shouting Irin! Irin!! because that’s what they call him in our area. I ran out and on getting to the scene, I met my husband there, lifeless on the floor. All of them had fled. We reported to the police and they came after to take him away. He is still in the mortuary.”

    But a relative of the community head who didn’t want his name mentioned said the cultists identified the late Azeez by calling his name severally.

    “What we heard was that they robbed about three houses in the area and when they were leaving, they met Irin on his way back from work. They asked him to lie down before shooting him,” he said.

     A young man who works at Kola bus stop said the group seized the opportunity of fighting their rival gang to rob the residents.

    One of the youths in the area simply identified as KC said it was shocking that the cultist robbed and killed people. He said items including money, phones, goods found in some stores were stolen.

  • Gunmen attack UNILAG student

    Gunmen attack UNILAG student

    A student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), identified as Bayo from the department of Economics Education, is in critical condition in the hospital after being shot by unknown gunmen on Wednesday night.

    A source told our reporters that the attack is speculated to have been carried out by cultists.

    The source said: “The boy was shot around the neck although the bullet was meant for his head.”

    The source noted that he is a resident of the Biobaku Hall of residence and may have been a cultist himself.

    Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Rahamon Bello, said the university was investigating the incident.

    “I heard about it and we suspect it was cultism-related. We are fighting it. The security unit and the police are investigating. The boy survived. He was rushed to LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital). The cultists went for his head, luckily the bullet only scrapped his head,” he said.