The rising in cult-related violence in most parts of Lagos in the last two weeks has become a source of concern to both security operatives as well as residents of the state as over seven innocent lives have been wasted.
While the frequency of fracas has been linked to the activities of different transport unions in the state, many believe that there is more to it than meet the eyes as the members of the different secret cult gangs have resulted into recruiting their foot soldiers from artisans in local communities in the metropolis.
From Ikorodu,to Epe and from Ajah to Lekki, the story remain the same. The activities of the gangs have become even more vicious in places like Mushin, Jibowu and Oworonshoki as the gangs engage themselves in broad day light bloody fight.
In such a situation, different weapons and charms are deployed by the warring faction to press home their superiority over others.
Recently, residents of Ajah and Jibowu communities have known no peace just as many of them lived in palpable fear, others have resolved to contend with violent acts which occur daily. The story is the same in Ajegunle and Ijanikin as cultists now turned robbers, attack residents brazenly in the morning and night hours.
In a space of two weeks about seven persons have been allegedly killed while several others were injured in two separate bloody fights which occurred at Ajah and Jibowu areas of the state.
Just two Sunday ago, the lifeless bodies of four yet to be identified persons were recovered by the police at Abraham Adesanya area of Lekki. The police said that the deceased were hacked down during fracas between suspected members of Aiye and Eiye confraternity.
The police said that the head of one of the victim was severed off, while others had various cutlass wounds. The police said that the deceased who were members of Eiye confraternity, were allegedly killed by the rival gang, Aiye.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said two suspected members of Aiye who participated in the killing have been arrested and that they are cooling off their heels at the homicide unit of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (SCIID), Panti Street,Yaba.
Elkana said that the suspects are helping the police to get to other fleeing members of the gang.
The Abraham Adesanya incident came barely 48 hours after two persons were fell by bullets fired by rival members of same cult gang at Fadeyi. The Fadeyi incident resulted into serious pandemonium.
Sources said that the rival cult clash at Fadeyi erupted between suspected members of the National Union of RoadTransport Workers (NURTW) over leadership of who control the motor park at Fadeyi.
The source said that a yet to be identified member of the union who wished to unseat one Jpron, who the police described as notorious leader of a cult gang member. It was gathered that most of the firearms used during the fracas at Fadeyi were given to them by politicians before the last General elections.
The gladiators at Jibowu, according to the sources, might not be fighting over land like those at Ikorodu and Epe, but were said to be fighting over financial interest. During such war, the strongest becomes king like Jpron.
“These cult leaders and land grabbers make a lot of money from security dues which they collect from shop owners, this is aside the toll which they also collect from commercial bus and motorcycle operators in the area” one of the sources said.
The Lagos State Police spokesman who confirmed both cult clashes, said two suspects were arrested for cult clash and murder in Abraham Adesanya, Ajah and four corpses evacuated to mortuary.
He said that on April 14, 2019, at about 8.45am, Ogombo Police station received a distress call that rival cult groups had a clash of supremacy along Abraham Adesanya, Lekki-Epe express way and four members of Eiye cult gang were killed by Aye members. Two suspects namely, Saheed Lateef, male 21years and Julius Augulere, male, 20 years both of No. 13, Obodo street, Okeira nla , Langbasa, Ajah-Lagos and members of Aye confraternity were arrested in connection with the case and they confessed to the commission of the crime. One Axe with blood stains was recovered from the suspects.
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