By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS – Residents of Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos State, are currently living in fear following the escape of some suspected killer cultists from Lagos State Police Anti-cultists Base in Surulere Lagos on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023.
It was learnt that some of the residents have started relocating from the town owing to threats by the suspected killer cultists.
According to information at Citizens Compass’ disposal, eight members of the community were murdered in March 2023 during a rivalry clash among members of two cultist groups, Aiye and Eye.
Despite this, Police were unable to fish out the killers of the eight innocent ones until Wednesday and Thursday, May 24 and/25, 2023 when members of a crime prevention team, Crime Prevention Project, carried their lives in their hands, fished out four suspected cultists and handed them over to the police for interrogation and prosecution.
However, barely a week after this, the suspects have escaped from Police custody and are threatening showdown with some residents who revealed their identity to the Police.
Some of the residents were said to have been receiving threat messages from the escapees.
Crime Prevention Project in a letter to Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Omohunwa, dated, Friday, June 2, 2023, and signed by its Coordinator, Ojobaro Michael, narrated residents’ ordeal which stated thus:
“We kindly request for an expanded security coverage for Ajegunle Apapa people especially our team members that assisted the Police to arrest some of the killer cultists that escaped from the Lagos State Police Anti-cultists Base in Surulere Lagos on Wednesday, 31st May, 2023.
“The escape of these killer cultists from the State facility has stirred an unrest in the entire Ajegunle community and threat to our team members.
” We took some time out after my return from the United Kingdom Exchange learning in building our security committee’s confidence to work with The Nigerian Police through the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Criminal Vices (POCACOV), to ensure that no killer cultists will come back to our community without Justice for the
victims that died during their Cult rivalry that took place in March 2023, between the AIYE & EIYE Cult group, where Eight (8) young people were murdered mercilessly including a child in a hairdressing shop and a woman in her fashion shop.
From March 2023 till date, the State and the local Police division couldn’t and have not made any single cultists arrest, until our team took up the challenge and assisted all and sundry to apprehend four (4) suspected cultists with arms and ammunition recovered given some backup from the Area B Police Command, Ajeromi and Layeni Police division, on Wednesday and Thursday, 24th/25th May, 2023.
“They were taken over by the Lagos State anti-cultist Team in Surulere for further
investigation, arresting and prosecuting everyone that is involved in the cultist killings inside Ajegunle Apapa.
It’s alarming to hear from the street on Thursday, 1st June, 2023 that THE KILLER CULTISTS our team handed over to the Police have escaped after seven (7) days in their detention.
“On Thursday, 1st June, 2023 some of our team members and their family started
receiving threatening calls, a family had to relocate immediately.
“We rushed down to the Lagos State Police Command with the state coordinator of POCACOV and met with the state Police PRO, CP Personal Assistant and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations Lagos Command.
” All our allegations were confirmed to be true and the anti-cultist team leader has been given 24-hours to re-arrest those escaped killer cultists.
” We are requesting for an overhaul of the State Anti-cultist Squad especially those
officers that have worked with the disbanded SARS team.
” An expanded investigation to the police officers and other high profile personalities in town, that have been giving all these cultists cover, funds, weapons and guidance.
” Lastly, we are requesting an expanded security coverage for Ajegunle Apapa people because our hope is fading gradually.”
Contacted, Spokesperson of the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin said the letter to the CP will be responded to.
