Wale JAGUN & Jare OLUKOTUN
A 20 years old notorious cultist and robber, Shokunbi Elias, an indigene of Ikorodu, who has been unleashing violence and robbing residents of Ikorodu, was on Saturday, June 29, 2019, arrested alongside two of his group members by the local security team, Onyabo vigilance group.
They were paraded at the security outfit’s headquarters at Ireshe, Ikorodu, where residents trooped out to en masse to watch.
Just last weekend, 12 Eiye cult members, one robber and three other suspected criminals were arrested and paraded by the local vigilance group before being handed over to the police.
According to Onyabo, the suspects, who were nabbed at Phase One Eti-Gutter, a notorious area in Ikorodu, specialized in robbing people at garage/Lagos road axis and other points across the town.
The local security team has been mandated by His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, and the Security Council in Ikorodu led by the Asipa of Ikorodu, Chief Kaoli Olusanya, to intensify patrol and actions in bringing hoodlums that have been unleashing terror and disturbing the peace of the town.
Elias, who was alleged to be part of a criminal syndicate who are cultists and robbers with record of killings, robbing and public disturbances, was arrested with Lookman Ogunyemi (aka ’10 Show’) and Taye Kasali (aka ‘Iso’).
Speaking with our reporter, Elias stated that he joined the group in 2016 and that he is always in the team that fight their rival cult group, Axe confraternity.
“I was arrested with our team that was alleged to have killed one Dayo, popularly known as ‘Bird’ at Itunmeko.
“I don’t rob but I always follow the team to fight members of the ‘Aye’ (Black axe) boys”.
“I am a member of the Eiye cult group. I joined them in 2016”, Elias confessed.
He pleaded with the security team that he would turn a good leaf and go back to his trade if pardoned and released.
“If I am release , I will go back to the work that I learnt. “
Meanwhile, a guy, Lomalami (not real name) who confessed that he used to be a member of the Elias group but that he’s not a cult member, spoke with our reporters at the scene where the suspects were paraded .
Lomalami claimed to have operated with Elias before he was arrested and detained at Panti.
“Aye guys always trouble us in Ikorodu and I don’t like. They usually invaded Ikorodu garage from Ibeshe and Ogijo and always shouting ‘Aye’ (axe men)and in the process, they usually rob and shoot at people and thereafter ran back to their hideout in Ogijo.
‘These guys, including Elias and his team, are the ones disturbing the peace of our town. Even while I was at Panti, I heard through those that came to join me there that they were still disturbing the peace of our town.
“They (members of Axe confraternity) would come around and shoot sporadically and flee back to their base at Ogijo”.
The self acclaimed repentant hoodlum, who was aggrieved for always being tagged as cultist and wrongly accused of committing crimes alongside Elias and others, listed Scorpion, Ade, Toheeb and Abbey among others as members of the Elias gang that have been unleashing mayhem on Ikorodu and robbing residents of their possessions.
“I am not a cult member. I am an hustler with Elias and others but I was always arrested for cultism which I know nothing about”, he stated.
He also mentioned Pencil, Bashorun (not real names) among those that are involved in stealing motorcycles (Okada).
While stating that he still has some confession that will assist in unraveling many crimes in Ikorodu, he pleaded with the Onyabo leaders not to release Elias and other suspects arrested .
“When the time comes, I shall speak and made some revelations but it is not yet time for that”, he stated.
“They should not be released (Elias and those arrested) but should be allowed to serve their terms in prison to learn some lessons”.
Also at the scene of the parade, a lady, who claimed to have been robbed with her husband earlier in the year, identified Elias as the leader of the robbery gang.
“Some guys who were shouting ” ‘Aye’ axe men” and wielding cutlass and other dangerous weapons robbed us at Salvation Army. They also took possession of my phone.
“It incident happened around 9pm in February after we watched Arsenal match and were on our way home.
“We later met a guy whom we complained to and he told me that it was Elias. The guy then pursue them to Sabo.
“I later traced him (Elias) to his father’s house and he promised to get my phone for me but till date, I have not gotten the phone back”, she stated.
Elias and other arrested suspects were later handed over to the Anti-Cultism Unit at Gbagada by the local vigilance group for furt5her investigation and prosecution.
