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Tag: Suspected cultist

  • Suspected cultist remanded for alleged murder

    A 28-year-old man, Elijah Ogunlaja, has been arraigned at an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court for allegedly belonging to a cult society.

    Ogunlaja, of 4, Ibadan Street, Oworoshoki, a Lagos suburb, was charged with eight count charges of conspiracy, murder, unlawful display of firearms in public, belonging to and managing an unlawful society.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clara Olagbayi told the court that the accused committed the offences at different times between last November and December at locations in Oworonshoki.

    She alleged that the accused killed one Yusuf by stabbing him to death.

    Olagbayi alleged that he also killed Seun Balogun and one Aro with a cutlass, opening their stomach.

    She alleged that the accused belonged to the Aiye Confraternity.

    He was alleged to have displayed firearms and ammunition in the public, threatening people.

    Magistrate A.O. Salawu remanded the accused at the Ikoyi Prison pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

    The case continues on February 12.

  • Suspected cultist gets N50, 000 bail

    A teenage mechanic, Adeyemi Ridwan, yesterday appeared at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly belonging to the ‘Eiye’ confraternity.

    Ridwan, 18, who lives at Onitire Street, Pako, Itire, Mushin, Lagos, had pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and possession of weapons.

    Prosecutor Lucky Ihiehie alleged that the offences were committed on October 27 about 5:30pm at Pako bus stop, Itire, Mushin, Lagos.

    He said the accused and five others at large were arrested by the Insp. Boniface Ukoha surveillance team on Itire Road, by Pako bus stop, following a tip-off.

    Read also: Notorious cultist, another killed in political gathering

    Ihiehie alleged that the accused was arrested with a short cutlass hidden inside his jeans trousers.

    The prosecutor said the case was reported to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Gbagada, on October 28.

    Magistrate E. Kubeinje admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must show proof of means of livelihood, with evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government for two years.

    Kubeinje adjourned the case till December 4 for hearing.

     

  • Suspected cultist nabbed in Edo State

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Benin, Mr. Rasheed Olatunde, said yesterday that the police had arrested a suspected cultist, Wilson Iriajen, in Benin, Edo State.

    Olatunde, who addressed reporters in Benin, said the arrest was in line with directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to mop up illegal arms.

    He said acting on intelligence, operatives nabbed the suspect on July 24 in Benin.

    Olatunde said the suspect, during interrogation, confessed to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

    He reportedly claimed to have joined the cult in 1992 as a student at Ambrose Ali University, Epkoma, but said he had renounced his membership.

    “I inherited the barrel from my father and it’s for my protection because of insecurity in the country.

    “I am not a thief; I did business of selling and buying guns for seven years. I am not married, but I have a son,” Iriajen said.

    Police spokesman Emeka Ihenacho said items recovered from the suspect included a double barrel gun, registered as MBDT 5870, and pump action guns, T587013-0216 and P630882.

    Others are Apple laptop, three international passports, and a wrapped substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

    Ihenacho said the police were doing their best to clean up Benin City and fish out bad eggs.

    He said investigation was on, adding that the suspect will be arraigned after investigation.

    The spokesman told the public security was a collective responsibility.

    He enjoined them to support the police.

    “Through the supply of information, we can help in the detection and arrest of criminals,” Ihenacho said.

     

  • Police recover two human skulls from suspected cultist in Calabar

    The Cross River Police Command has arrested 50 suspects, including a suspected cultist caught with two human skulls, in the last three months.

    Parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Calabar, the state capital, Police Commissioner Hafiz Inuwa said the suspected cultist was arrested on June 27 on Etim-Edet Street in Calabar.

    The police chief said 49 other suspected criminals were arrested for various offences.  Inuwa said the command received a distress call from a resident that a group of suspected cultists were undergoing a fortification ritual.

    The police chief said personnel from the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad surrounded and arrested the suspected cultist while others fled.

    He said: “On June 27, our men from the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad arrested one suspected cultist with two human skulls and charms during a fortification ritual.

    “Other members of his gang took to their heels on sighting the police. Our men are on the trail of the fleeing suspects.”

    Inuwa also said of the 49 suspects, one was arrested for allegedly raping an 18-year-old girl in Calabar.  The police chief said four other suspects were arrested for allegedly robbing a resident, Friday Okon, on Yellow Duke Street in Calabar.

    “Also, on April 29, our Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad received a complaint from Nkoyo Udosen that some gunmen had abducted her husband, Udosen Udosen, and two of his friends at Atimbo area of Calabar.

    “On receiving the information, our men swung into action and arrested seven suspects in connection with the crime.

    “We recovered two locally-made guns, charms, 30 rounds of cartridges and one Dane gun from the suspects.

    “The suspects have confessed to the crime and will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

    “In all, we are parading 50 suspected criminals who have committed various offences across the state since April till date.”

  • Police nabs suspected notorious cultists, Oriyomi Balogun

    Police nabs suspected notorious cultists, Oriyomi Balogun

    A suspected cultist, Oriyomi Balogun, 30, (a.k.a. J-Prompt) yesterday said he joined the Eiye Confraternity in 2009 to avenge the death of his best friend killed by members of Black Axe.

    The suspect, who said he was happy to have fulfilled his wish, added that he killed two persons, Femi Wiper and Lekan Akon, who murdered his friend, Sunday Folarunsho.

    J-Prompt has been on the wanted list of the police for allegedly unleashing mayhem on residents of Shomolu and Bariga.

    Although he was alleged to have been involved in various armed robbery operations, the suspect denied the allegation, insisting that he only involved in cult clashes.

    He said: “I am a ‘Bird’. I belong to Eiye confraternity and we are always fighting with Aye (Black Axe) over who controls the area. We also fight when they snatch our member’s girlfriend. I joined Eiye because Aye members killed my best friend in 2009. His death pained me so much and Eiye people came to me that they will help me to avenge his killing if I joined them. I agreed and we killed Femi Wiper. We killed him during a carnival. Lekan Akon was killed in 2010. Since then, I have not killed anyone again but my members have been killing people.

    “I was arrested last week while we were chasing a robber who came to our area. Policemen from Alade Division came and stopped us. They arrested me and took me to the station.

    “They said I will have to wait for the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to come the following morning and that my mother should come and bail me but when my mother came, the DPO said they should not bail me.

    “I do not regret my actions. I take responsibility for it but I want to advise young people that cultism does not pay. They should never repay evil with evil. Our government too is not helping the youth. So many young people who do not intend to take to crime are doing so because there is no assistance from government,” he said.

    Asked how he was able to escape each fight unscathed, the suspect said as an ‘Alpha’, he has his charms, adding that a herbalist was also invited to ‘cook’ them to become bullet proofs.

    Parading the suspect, Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni said he confessed to several murders in the last six months, adding that he led the gang that razed popular house, Mashafani.

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  • Suspected cultist kills battery charger

    Suspected cultist kills battery charger

    A battery charger, Mutiu Edunjobi, 34, has been allegedly killed by a suspected cultist, Kehinde Lawal.

    Edunjobi was stabbed on the neck around 8pm on Sunday a party organised by an ‘Egun’ worshipper at Edum compound in Isheri Ojodu Berger.

    It was gathered that the deceased, who was a friend to Friday, alias Ipodo, the party organiser, had been targeted since March.

    According to his uncle, Alhaji Wahab Edunjobi, the suspect had threatened to kill him because of his closeness to Ipodo.

    Ipodo was said to have injured a rival cult member on the head last March 14.

    Alhaji Edunjobi said: “They accused Mutiu of being part of Ipodo’s gang and the police arrested him. But after investigation, it was discovered that he was not a cultist and that he had nothing to do with the fight and he was set free. But since then, the boys have been threatening to kill him. His father who is my elder brother warned him to stay away from them which he did. But on Sunday, he was invited for the party and because he’s an easy going person, he went to honour the invitation. It was at the street party that Kehinde, 21, stepped on his leg. He called his attention to it but instead of apologising, Kehinde stabbed him on the neck and attempted to run away. The people around there held him but his brother, Yusuf (Ata) came out with a bottle and frightened everyone. That was how Kehinde escaped.”

    Edunjobi said when he and other family members got to the scene, Mutiu had been rushed to hospital.

    “So, we went straight to Isheri Police Station to report and less than 10 minutes at the station, my brother called that Mutiu had died. When Kehinde escaped, the people on the scene held Yusuf. That was how the police arrested Yusuf and Ipodo and took them to the police station,” he said.

    The bereaved father, Dauda Edunjobi lamented the spate of cult clashes in the area, calling on the government to ensure justice for his son whose young wife and two children have been robbed of their breadwinner.

    He also urged the government to deploy security men in the area because the residents no longer feel safe.

    He said: “The guy who killed my son is far younger than him. They are not even friends. That boy should be about 20 or 21 years old. My son learnt his trade from his older brother. He was not a cult member. They just felt he was sympathetic to their enemies and have been threatening to kill him. His oldest daughter is six years and the other one is just 41-days-old. It was Ipodo’s brother that invited him for the party. It was a deliberate plan to kill my son. They have been telling people that they will kill him.

    “Youths in the area were very angry and stormed the police station demanding that the suspects be brought out. But the police assured them that they will do justice to the case. We want the boy who killed my son and his group to be brought to justice. He should be arrested and prosecuted for murder. Cult clashes are getting out of hand in this area. They are always fighting but this is the first time they have killed somebody and it was my son.

    “My son is very gentle and does not like trouble. That’s why educated people come to his shop to charge their car batteries. All we want is justice for Mutiu,” he said.

    The widow, Mrs Miriam Edunjobi, 25, while also demanding justice, urged the government to support her and her kids.

    “I do not do anything. My husband was the one providing for us and he had promised to start a small business for me. Now they have killed him just like that. I do not know what to do again. How do I cater for my children?” she sobbed.

    The Nation gathered that Ipodo and Yusuf have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti-Yaba.

    Sympathisers, who flocked the bereaved father’s house said they would resist any plan to release Yusuf and Ipodo, asking that other suspects should also be arrested.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said the suspect resides on 5, Ajegunle Street, Isheri, stabbed the deceased with a knife around 8pm.

    She said: “It was during a fight at Edum Compound, Isheri. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died. His body has been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) mortuary for autopsy and effort is on to arrest the suspect.”