The Nation Newspaper

Tag: suspected cultists

  • Suspected cultists ‘kill’ two in Rivers

    A SUSPECTED cultists on Monday allegedly killed two persons identified as Emma and Dele, at Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State.
    This occurred three days after youths declared war on anyone engaged in killing, kidnapping and politicians who armed youths.
    A source alleged the victims were murdered in their homes near Ahoada Road, at Omoku, about 11p.m.
    The source, the victims’ neighbour, said the suspected cultists shot into the air, causing panic.
    He said about three hours after the incident; people came out and found the remains of the victims.
    The Nation learnt security operatives visited the scene and ordered that the bodies be deposited at the mortuary.
    “Investigations have begun,” a police source said.
    A senior lecturer at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Isaac Messiah and his daughter have been kidnapped by gunmen.
    The victims were abducted at their home near Lagos Avenue, on Ogboo Road, Omoku.
    A source told our reporter the suspected kidnappers stormed the victims’ house at 1p.m. on Monday in a Toyota Camry and abducted them.

    Effort to reach police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni was unsuccessful.
    But a senior police officer, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying the command got a tip-off after the kidnappers had left.

  • Cultists behead man in renewed Edo cult war

    Cultists behead man in renewed Edo cult war

    Suspected cultists have beheaded a yet to be identified man in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

     

    Severed body of the victim was dumped at First Junction along Sakpoba road in Benin City.

     

    The victim appeared to have been dragged along the road after being beheaded as there were bruises on his body.

     

    Residents in the area who gathered to catch a glimpse of the body said they did not know the victim.

     

    They described the incident as barbaric.

     

    Several persons have been killed in the past two weeks in renewed rival cult war in Benin City.

     

    Over 22 suspected cultists including one Emmanuel Ogbemudia who was allegedly involved in several cult killings were arrested in the last one month.

     

    Policemen from Adesuwa Police Division came to remove the severed body but declined comments

  • Suspected cultists kill event planner

    Suspected cultists kill event planner

    AN event planner was on Monday night killed on LASU-Iba road by suspected cult members from Lagos State University (LASU).
    He was found dead in front of his 1, Igbatayo Street, Adexson bus stop, Akesan home.
    A resident, Tunrayo Saheed, said the incident happened around 8:23pm on Monday.
    She said the man was returning from a nearby filling station when the incident happened.
    “The deceased noticed some gunmen following him on bike from the filling station. When he got to the entrance of his house, he raised the alarm, shouting ‘ole! ole!! thief, thief,’. It was after his shout that one of the gunmen shot him on his arm and they fled the scene before the residents came out.”
    She said the man was found in his pool of blood and was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he died before getting there.
    Another source said the suspected cultists were from LASU.
    He said they usually came to the area to rob almost every night.
    “The man they killed is an event planner; he was killed in front of his house which is like a male hostel where most of the tenants are students from LASU.”
    The source said the deceased’s neighbours had vacated the house before police got there.
    The Nation observed that all the tenants in the house had left, while the street is deserted.

  • Police arrest four ‘cultist’, suspected land grabber 

    Police arrest four ‘cultist’, suspected land grabber 

    Operatives of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police  (AIG) Zone II, Onikan, have arrested four suspected cultists and an alleged land grabber in Lagos and Ogun states, respectively.

    The cultists- Ogbe Andrew, 25, Toheeb Jimoh, 26, Emeka Mgbawunsi, 39 and Sunday Godwin, 29 were arrested at Olokodana Street, Bariga, after a toy gun was found in the roof of their residence.

    It was gathered that policemen from the zonal command stormed the area following rampant street fighting among rival cult groups.

    In the course of investigating alleged hideouts of cult members, they were received to have retrieved the dummy gun from the roof prompting the arrest of the four suspects.

    The four suspects denied being cultists, insisting that they knew nothing about the toy gun found in the premises.

    Meanwhile, the alleged land grabber, Efe Iso, 32, was apprehended at Aderan Estate, Shimawa, Mowe, while illegally carrying two pump action guns.

    Iso, who said he worked as a guard for a security firm, Adron Homes and Property, said the company’s owner purchased the weapons and gave them to use in order to scare land grabbers away.

    He denied being a land grabber, insisting that he has never shot anyone.

    He said: “I am from Benin City, Edo State. I was arrested on Tuesday for carrying gun but I have explained to police that it was my boss, Bishop Emmanuel Adron that bought the guns and gave us. I work for his company as a security guard. It was my Coordinator, Abdulrasheed, who’s an OPC member that taught me how to use a gun. I am not a criminal and I have never shot anyone. We just use it to keep troublemakers out of the estate and protect people and their property.”

    Parading the suspects, the command’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said they would be charged to court at the end of investigation, adding that their fleeing accomplices would be apprehended.

  • Police arrest four suspected cultists

    Police arrest four suspected cultists

    The police 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 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 injuries.

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

    Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (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.”

  • Police arrest two suspected cultists

    Police arrest two suspected cultists

    The police have arrested two suspected cultists over the apprehension that occurred in Ikorodu on Monday.

    They are Sunday Oteje, 24, a resident of 47, Zion Street and Monday Olatokun, 22, of Unity Road, Ajegunle both in Ikorodu.

    The suspects were allegedly arrested with a cutlass each, while they, with others at large, were planning to wreak havoc in the area.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said that detectives from the Owode Onirin Division got intelligence report that cultists will be unleashing mayhem on August 8.

    She said the command acted on the information and intensified patrol in the areas, which led to the arrest of the suspects at about 2:20pm on Zion Street while others fled.

    She stated that the suspects confessed to be cultists who were planning to strike, adding that they have been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.

  • Enugu police parade suspected cultists , robbery suspects

    Enugu police parade suspected cultists , robbery suspects

    The Enugu State Police Command has apprehended 25 cultists and armed robbers. While parading the suspects, Police Commissioner (CP),Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu expressed the command’s “readiness in collaboration with other  security agencies and other stakeholders at ensuring a safe and secured environment.”

    He disclosed that the major achievement success of the command was the arrest of several members of cult groups.

    “On July 7, 2016 between 9pm and 10 pm, a distress call was received by the operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) that a group of suspected Aiye cult boys  were on rampage at the residence of one Sunday Noble at Bricks House Independence Layout Enugu where the hoodlums were allegedly celebrating their anniversary. SARS operatives stormed the place and arrested the following persons: Maxwell Godwin Junior aka Mandela; Lucky Madu , 22y; Udengene Monday, aka Festus Okotiebo), Chukwunonso Okafor, who is the driver of the Hilux van used in conveying the cult boys to the scene.  The Hilux van and an automatic  pump action recovered allegedly belonged to one Chief Martins Udeh – a.k.a Agu Highest who is also their boss.”

    Others are: Ejimofor George; Ikenna Dominic; Eze Ogbute Frank;Godwin Victor  and Anike Sopuruchukwu , 19.

    Other items recovered from the group include; a black t-shirt with the inscription “Neo Black Movement”, an axe and Aye Freedom embossed on it and one magnum pump action gun and a white Toyota Hilux van.

    Men of the command also arrested a notorious suspect,Kosi Okoye on  July 8 at about 3.30pm at Garriki Awkunanaw following a tip off.The suspect has been on the wanted list of police for his involvement in cultism and armed robbery.

  • Eight suspected cultists arrested in Cross River

    Eight suspected cultists arrested in Cross River

    The Cross River State Police Command on Friday said it had arrested no fewer than eight suspected cultists who were involved in the killings of six persons alleged to be members of rival cult groups in Calabar.

    The new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ozi Obeh, while briefing reporters on assumption of office said his men have been deployed to all parts of the state to ensure that no cult group was given the opportunity to operate.

    “Following the cult war that claimed over six lives of some suspected cultists, I wish to inform you that the police have arrested eight suspects in connection with the killings.

    “I can assure you that we will get other members of the group where ever they are and bring them to justice.

    “No cult group will be allowed to operate under my watch as the Commissioner of police.

    “I am here to fight crime and other forms of illegality to the barest minimum,’’ he assured.

  • Court arraigns seven suspected cultists

    Court arraigns seven suspected cultists

    The police have arraigned seven suspected cultists before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly belonging to an unlawfully society.

    The suspects, Riliwan Okegbenro19;Tolulope Omolaja  23;Michael Green,20;Musiliu Lateef,20; Shola Ogundeji,22; Ayuba Sulaimon, 20; Olushola Sikiru,26, were said to be members of Aiye confraternity.

    It was said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner that caused breach of peace.
    The defendants were said to have conspired with others at large on May 7 at 5pm at Pasokun Street, Aga – Ikorodu.

    The prosecuting police, Corporal Kokoye Olusegun said that the defendants committed an offence punishable under Section 409, 166, 41 and 42 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defence counsel, Saka Bello and Imelda Adebambo prayed for the bail of their clients in the most liberal terms.

    The presiding magistrate Fowowe Erusiafe granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N50, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

    She added that each of the sureties must be blood relation of the accused persons.

    The matter was adjourned to July 18.

     

  • Suspected cultists behead couple in Rivers

    Suspected cultists behead couple in Rivers

    •Six others burnt to death •Police: we’re not aware of incident 

    Eight persons, including a man and his wife, have been killed in a cult clash in Idu community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Eyewitness said the couple was beheaded while the other victims were burnt beyond recognition.

    The killings were said to be the fallout of a clash between two rival cult groups, the Icelanders and the Greenlanders.

    The source said the incident happened last Thursday without the media knowing about it.

    But the police command said it was not aware of the incident.

    Police spokesman Ahmad Mohammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who spoke on phone with our reporter, said: “I do not know what you are talking about. No such thing happened in the state or the local government area.”

    But the source said a fierce battle ensued among the two cult groups, leading to the death of their members.

    It was learnt that no innocent person was killed in the clash.