By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS – Lagos State Police Command on Friday, July 14, 2023, expressed dismay at the high rate of cultism in the state saying the menace poses a challenge to insecurity in the state.
The Force called on parents, communities, religious biddies and security agencies to jointly nip it in the bud.
Spokesperson of the Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this during the parade of 27 suspects at the State Command Headquarters, Ikeja.
He said the parade was organised as some of the achievements of the Command in the fight against crime and criminality within Lagos State in the past three weeks.
The spokesperson said the suspects engaged themselves in varying crimes including armed robbery, murder, cultism and vandalization to mention but a few.
Parading the suspects, Hundeyin said a total of six arms, twelve live ammunition, one knife, two motorcycles, one vehicle and sim cards were among the exhibits recovered within the period.
He said, “Members of the press, we present to you today some of our achievements in the fight against crime and criminality within Lagos State in the past three weeks or thereabout. Before you today we have a total of Twenty-Seven (27) suspects who have engaged in varying crimes including armed robbery, murder, cultism, vandalization etc.
“From all these cases which we successfully cracked, we recovered a total of six (6) arms, twelve (12) live ammunition, one (1) knife, two (2) motorcycles, one (1) vehicle and sim cards.”
He gave the summary of the cases thus,
“Cultism and armed robbery-On the 30th of June 2023, at about 1400hrs, based on credible intelligence that some group of boys suspected to be members of Kesari Confraternity are planning to retaliate their leader’s death on other rival cult members in Mushin area of Lagos State, police operatives of the command swung into action and arrested one Tobi Robert ‘m’ aged 23, Opeyemi Adeosun ‘m’ aged 22, Jenkeo Olumide ‘m’ aged 20, Toheeb Tajudeen ‘m’ aged 25 and Nurudeen Kazeem ‘m’ aged 27.
“Investigation revealed that they are a notorious armed robbery/cultism gang terrorizing Mushin and its environs. The suspects confessed to being active members of the confraternity.
Investigation is ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members and recover more of their operational arms.
On suspected cultists, he said,”On the 11th of July 2023, at about 1100hrs, based on credible intelligence that some group of boys suspected to be cultist brandishing arms are attacking rival cult members in Ebute-meta area of Lagos State. Operatives of the command were dispatched to the area where one Lukmon Odunsi ‘m’ aged 25yrs and Junior Peter ‘m’ aged 21 were apprehended with one jack knife.
“The suspects confessed to being members of Eiye confraternity. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other members of this syndicate.
On cultism, murder and unlawful possession of firearm, he said,” On 28th of July 2023 at about 1530hrs, credible intelligence was received on an ongoing jungle justice incident happening in Aratunmi area of Iba Okokomaiko, Lagos state.
” Police operatives of the command swung into action and rescued the suspects namely Segun Ishola aka Bouncer ‘m’ aged 31, and Auwal Daud aka Blessign Boy ‘m’ aged 21 who were being mobbed for shooting one Ojo Lion ‘m’ to death. One locally made single Barrel pistol and one expanded cartridge was recovered from the scene.
“The suspects confessed to being members of Eiye confraternity. Further investigation led to the arrest of AdejareOyelade ‘m’ aged 29, Oyekanmi Paul Kolawole ‘m’ aged 27, Omotosho Tunde ‘m’ aged 31, Moses Ishola ‘m’ aged 36, Wasiu Ojo ‘m’ aged 28, Tolulope Adebisi ‘m’ aged 38, Ifeoluwa Izokpu ‘m’ aged 23 and Adebanke Bello ‘f’.
“Four locally made single barrel pistol with two live cartridges were recovered from them.
On conspiracy and armed robbery, he said,” On 10th July 2023 at about 1030hrs a gang of armed robbers namely Yusuf Akeem ‘m’ aged 28 and Taisiru Aminu ‘m’ aged 22 attacked and robbed a resident of Agege, Lagos State that resulted in death of the victim.
” Diligent investigation led to their arrest. One locally made double barrel short with ten live cartridges were recovered from them.”
As regards conspiracy and stealing, “on 29th June 2023 at about 1400hrs, report was received about a group suspected to have stolen motorcycles. Diligent investigation led to the arrest of Adamu Hassan ‘m’ aged 25, Abacha Hassan ‘m’ aged 22 and Abdulrasheed Abubakar ‘m’ aged 25. Two unregistered motorcycles were recovered from them.”
On another conspiracy and armed robbery, Hundeyin explained thus,” On 7th July 2023 at about 1942hrs, Operatives of the Lagos state command based on credible intelligence arrested armed robbers namely Morufu Alabede ‘m’ aged 32, Idowu Raji ‘m’ aged 35, Ibrahim Abubakar ‘m’ aged 33 and Femi Afolabi ‘m’ aged 30 a gang specializing in removing vehicles from park. One unregistered Toyota Corolla was recovered.
On pipeline vabdalisation, “On 6th July 2023 at about 1346hrs, report was received about a group suspected to be vandals spotted in Iyana-odob axis of Idimu. Operatives of the command were dispatched to the area where one Saheed Ramon ‘m’ aged 46 was apprehended.
All suspects are to be charged to court immediately.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, FBINAA, uses this medium to assure Lagosians that the command would continue to do everything operationally possible to ensure that crime and criminality is brought to the barest minimum in the State.”
