The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 185 suspected cultists of some confraternities who have been causing panic and deaths among residents of Ikorodu area of the state over supremacy battles.
The confraternities are: Eye, Aiye, KK, Buccaneers and Vikings among others.
In a statement the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, issued, the suspects were arrested following the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu’s deployment of personnel from the commands tactical unit in the Ikorodu, Ipakodo, Igbogbo, Ibeshe, Shagamu Road and Agbowa areas among others.
Following their arrests, eight locally-made pistols were recovered from the cultists, adding that all the 185 suspects would be charged to court.
Elkana explained: “Rival cults, especially in Ikorodu, have in the last few weeks engaged themselves in a supremacy battle with resultant deaths on both sides.”
Hence, the CP gave operatives of the Special Strike Force clear instructions to reclaim and dominate the public spaces and ensure that no cult or gang operates in any part of the state.
The PRO added: “The personnel have so far arrested notorious cultists and recovered eight IocaIIy-made pistols and other weapons from them. They confessed to belonging to the Eye, Aiye, KK, Buccaneers and Vikings confraternities among others.”
Among the arrested suspects are: Gbadamosi Mohammed, 30, suspected to be among the cultists, who killed one Madariola Sunday at Ibeshe on May 21 this year; Onibudo Afeex; Habeeb Isa; Felix lgwoke and Taiwo Iyanu of Femi Taiwo Street, Ikorodu were arrested in an uncompleted building holding a cult meeting.
Elkana further listed names like Adeoye Daya, 25, a hitman for the Aiye Confraternity was arrested at the Ikorodu Garage with one locally-made short gun and rounds of live cartridges; Shodeinde Tosin, a hitman for the Eiye Confraternity in Igbogbo was also arrested with a locally-made short gun.
“The operations will be sustained in all parts of the state until the criminal gangs are defeated. The suspects will be charged,” Elkana assured the public.
