One dies in cult war in Lagos

One person, whom the police described as a member of one of the deadly secret cult gangs in Lagos State, was on Wednesday night killed by a rival gang. The police said that the 32-year-old deceased, identified as Sylvester Chikwendu, was hacked down along Demuren Street, Alapere, about 10 pm on Wednesday. The police said […]

One person, whom the police described as a member of one of the deadly secret cult gangs in Lagos State, was on Wednesday night killed by a rival gang.

The police said that the 32-year-old deceased, identified as Sylvester Chikwendu, was hacked down along Demuren Street, Alapere, about 10 pm on Wednesday.

The police said that following Chikwendu’s death, members of his gang went on rampage yesterday, destroying properties belonging to innocent members of the public.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chike Oti, who confirmed the incident, said that when the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Owode-Onirin Division got wind of the riot by the cultists, he deployed policemen from the division to mount a road block along the Ikorodu road.

Oti said that immediately the cultists sighted the police team, they opened fire on the operatives, who responded, resulting in the death of one of the hoodlums and a good number of the others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.

“When the gang approached the police zone, they became desperate and opened fire on the operatives in their effort to evade arrest, eliciting immediate response from the police team.

“In the ensuing gun battle, one of the hoodlums bowed to death from bullet wounds sustained during the fight, while the others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.

“They abandoned the following items: their operational Toyota Camry saloon car without a registration plate, one pump action rifle, one locally  made revolver, one locally made single barrel pistol, five live 9mm calibre ammunition, three live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two cutlasses, charms and assorted clothings,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, who also confirmed the incident, appealed to health care professionals, including native doctors and other care-givers, to watch out for patients with gunshot wounds and inform the police within two hours of Comme ncement of treatment, in line with the Compulsory Treatment of Victims of Gunshot Act.