Police arrest 39 cultists in Lagos

The police in Lagos have arrested another set of 39 suspected members of different cult gangs in connection with various killings in the state. The Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had issued a matching order to Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to go after suspected cult members. The spokesman of the command, Bala Elkana, […]

The police in Lagos have arrested another set of 39 suspected members of different cult gangs in connection with various killings in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had issued a matching order to Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to go after suspected cult members.

The spokesman of the command, Bala Elkana, who confirmed the operation, said the suspects were nabbed by detectives attached to Operation Crush.

He said on June 13 at about 6.50pm, acting on credible intelligence, Operation Crush team attached to Bariga Police Station, raided a cultists’ hideouts at Bariga.

He said the operation which lasted for three hours and 10 minutes, was successful as it led to the arrest of one Danjuma Bala, a suspected cult kingpin and 18 other members of his gang. He put the ages of those arrested at Bariga at 20 to 45.

Elkana disclosed that in a follow up operations on June 15, from 5.30pm to 10.11pm, 12 additional suspects were arrested and that they are within ages 23 and 32.

He added that, “On June 12, at about 3.00am, operatives of Operation Crush from the Anti Cultism Unit, led by the OC Anti Cultism, CSP Frank Nelson, stormed cultists hideouts at Oshodi where one Ayuba Balogun ‘m’ 28 years old, a cult leader and three members of his gang were arrested.

“Two automatic guns were recovered from them. Investigation led the team to Mangoro area, Dopemu, Agege at about 7.00am, where one Segun Moyo ‘m’ 34 years old and one other member of their gang were arrested. One JOJEFF Pump Action Gun was recovered.

“On June, 10, at about 7.00pm, acting on credible intelligence, Operation Crush from Morogbo Police Station, led by the Divisional Police Officer arrested two cult leaders namely, Enahoro Ifon ‘m’ and Sunday Oti ‘m’, in their hideout along Badagry Expressway. Four locally made pistols were recovered from them.”

He said the suspects confessed to belong to ‘Eiye’ and ‘Aiye’ confraternities and they would soon be charged to court.