Six killed as cult clashes rock Lagos communities

No fewer than six persons, including five suspected cult members, have been killed in different parts of Lagos, including Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Ojo, and Lagos Island.

This comes as the police in the state have arrested two suspected cult members and recovered a locally made cut-to-size pistol from them.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that no fewer than four people were killed in Ikorodu in separate attacks and reprisal assaults.

It was gathered that a former leader of the Aiye Confraternity, simply identified as Spirit, and two others were killed over the weekend in the Baiyeku area of Ikorodu.

The other two deceased persons in the Baiyeku attack were identified as Starboy, a suspected member of the Aiye cult, and Muhammed, who operated a mobile phone charging business for residents in the area.

Muhammed suffered deep cuts to his head, and one of his ears was severed by the suspected cultists. He died on Sunday at the hospital where he was rushed for treatment.

The death of Spirit, who was said to be a very influential cult member, has created serious panic among residents of Baiyeku and neighbouring communities, as members of his group have reportedly vowed to avenge his death.

In a suspected retaliatory attack following the killing of Spirit, suspected members of the Aiye group on Monday night killed a barber, simply identified as Elewure, in the Offin area of Ikorodu.

Although Elewure has not been linked to any cult group in the area, his killing may have been a case of mistaken identity, as he was described as a very peaceful person while alive.

Also on Sunday, a newlywed barber in the Jakande area of Ojo, simply identified as Debere (alias Emma Moet), was killed by suspected cult members.

Debere, whose wife gave birth to a baby six months ago, was suspected to have been the primary target, as the assailants reportedly invaded his shop, walked straight to him, and shot him at close range.

Another resident of Ojo, Malaika, was also attacked last Sunday at a drinking joint on Salami Street, Jakande, in the same Ojo area.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, said in a statement on Tuesday that two suspected cult members were arrested in the Ajah area of the state.

The Lagos police spokesperson said: ” In a proactive efforts to curb cultism and other violent crimes, operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), acting on credible intelligence, have arrested two suspected cultists allegedly terrorizing the Addo Road area of Ajah, Lagos.

“The suspects, identified as Idris Rasak, ‘m’, 26 years, aka Aloss, and Ibrahim Kazeem, ‘m’, 25 years, aka Asunmo Kebe, were arrested following intelligence on their alleged involvement in cult-related activities within the area.”

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According to the Lagos police image-maker, ” During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity and led operatives to the Waterside area of Addo, Ajah, where a locally made cut-to-size pistol was recovered.

” The suspects are currently in Police custody, while investigation is ongoing to establish the full extent of their activities and identify other persons who may be connected to the alleged criminal activities.”

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reiterated the command’s commitment to combating cultism and other criminal activities through intelligence-led operations.

He urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to the police to support crime prevention and enhance the safety and security of residents across the state.