Police arrest most wanted cultist, 319 suspects in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 320 suspected criminals. Among the suspects is the most wanted secret cult gang leader, Damilare Dare aka ‘Naro’. The Police said that the suspect, who is the leader of Aiye secrete cult group and his gang members have been terrorizing residents of Oworonshoki community in Lagos for some […]

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 320 suspected criminals.

Among the suspects is the most wanted secret cult gang leader, Damilare Dare aka ‘Naro’.

The Police said that the suspect, who is the leader of Aiye secrete cult group and his gang members have been terrorizing residents of Oworonshoki community in Lagos for some time.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters, said that Damilare, 28, was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Cultism unit of the command.

He said that the team received credible information from some good Nigerians that the dreaded cult gang leader was about to operate in the area.

He said: "Based on the strength of the information, the O/C in charge of the anti-cultism unit quickly mobilized his men to go after the suspect. He has been arrested. Investigation is presently in progress while effort is on to arrest other members of the gang."

Edgal who gave a breakdown of the series of arrest expressed shock at the involvement of secondary school student in cultism.

He charged parents to always keep close watch on their children and those they associate with, stressing that anybody arrested at criminal hideouts would be treated as such.

He said it was most saddened to note that the Divisional Police Officer, Ilupeju Division recently arrested three students of Atunrashe Senior Secondary School, Surulere and two students of Birch Freeman Junior Secondary School, Surulere with axes and cutlasses.

He said that the students were on their way to attack one another over a football match.

"A fifth suspect, Mayowa Rauf Oguntoye, who is a non-student, is the alleged leader and sponsor of the group.  He was arrested after he was mentioned by the student as their sponsor and the provider of the weapons retrieved from them.

"Those arrested are Dauda Sodiq, 15, Timilehin Balogun, 17, Ajala Hafiz, 13 and Mayowa Rauf Oguntoye, 18."

The Lagos State Police boss revealed that the suspects were intercepted while on their way to carry out an assignment.

He said that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that they were on their way to attack a rival cult group at Eko Boys High school, Mushin.

Edgal said that two traders were also arrested while attempting to bugle another shop at Trade Fair.

He said what made the arrest so unique is that the culprits were caught in the act while carting away goods worth millions of Naira.

He said that the Divisional Police Officer, Trade Fair Division, SP Sunny Akaeze, got a tip-off about the intended crime and effected their arrest.

Edgal, who identified the suspects as Ifeanyi Okafor, 30, and Okonkwo Nnamdi, said they are members of a syndicate that specialize in breaking and looting shops in Trade Fair complex.

"Recovered from the gang are cartons of snickers chocolates among others,” he said.