80 suspected cultists arrested in 4 months in Lagos

By Moses Omorogieva

The Lagos Police Command has appealed to members of the public and all stakeholders to join hands to bring the menace of cultism to an end in the state following arrest of over 80 suspects in four months.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made the appeal on Friday while parading 27 suspects, 20 of of who were suspected cultists.

Hundeyin said the suspects paraded were arrested within three weeks, stressing that cultism had become a major crime giving the command worries.

He identified Mushin, Ikorodu, Okokomaiko, Ebute-Metta, Obalende and Lekki-Ajah, Shomolu, Badagry as areas where the suspects have their bases in Lagos.

Hundeyin said that in many of the arrests, police had recovered dangerous weapons, including ammunition, guns, cutlasses, knives, charms of all kinds and their Barrets representing their groups.

His appeal followed the arrest of 80 suspected cultists in the state between April and July 14, 2023.

In April, 42 suspected cultists, allegedly belonging to different groups were arrested at different places within the state, while 17 others were also arrested in June.

The Police spokesperson added that amongst those paraded also were suspected armed robbers, murder and suspected vandal.

“From all these cases which we successfully cracked, we recovered a total of six arms, 12 live ammunition, one knife, two motorcycles, one vehicle and sim cards,” he said.

Explaining further, Hundeyin said on June 30th, at about 2.00 p.m., based on credible intelligence, some group of boys suspected to be members of Kesari Confraternity were planning to retaliate their leader’s death on other rival cult members in Mushin area of the state.

He said police operatives of the command swung into action and arrested five suspects who were between ages 20 and 27.

The spokesperson said the suspects were members of a notorious armed robbery/cultism gang terrorizing Mushin and its environs and they confessed to being active members of the confraternity.

Hundeyin said that two Eiye confraternity members were also arrested at Ebute-Metta area on Tuesday while they were brandishing arms to go and attack rival cult members in same area.

He said the operatives arrested 10 others, including a female member at Iba Okokomaiko after they allegedly killed one Ojo Lion.

“The suspects confessed to being members of Eiye confraternity. locally made single barrel pistol with two live cartridges were recovered from them,” he said.

The image maker said one pipeline vandal, whose gang allegedly vandalised the NNPC Pipeline at Idimu on July 6, 2023 was arrested, while efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang.

He said that all suspects paraded would be be charged to court immediately. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)