Kunle Adelabu
-Police ready to deal with cult menace in the state – State Police Command
Seven suspected members of three rival cult groups – Eiye (Airlords), Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and Aye (Axe) confraternities were reportedly killed between Monday, January 20 and Tuesday, 21, 2020, in a renewed gang crisis in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division.
The fight broke out on Monday between Eiye and KKK confraternities at a joint where young men in Ijede usually gathered to drink local gin commonly known and called ‘Paraga’ in local parlance.
THE IMPACT gathered that two suspected Aye members that are not part of the fight were among the seven people killed in the fight which lasted two days and brought social and economic lives of the community to a halt.
According to sources, the fight broke out at the joint between members of Eiye and KKK cult groups due to supremacy claim and in the process, an alleged member of the Eiye cult group called ‘Omo Baba Osha’ (son of a priest) was badly stabbed by a suspected KKK member.
Other sources that spoke with THE IMPACT stated that members of Aiye gang that was not involve in the fight were attacked by the Eiye boys because of their suspected affiliation with KKK cult group.
The injury sustained by the attacked Eiye cult member, according to report, was so serious that his intestines were removed and due to his condition, he was rejected at the General Hospital, Ijede.
The news of his condition was said to have led his own cult group to unleash mayhem on the community as they went after the members of the rival gang.
It was also gathered the victim, who was transferred to the General Hospital, Ikorodu, was rejected again and was transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where he is said to have received treatment and now recuperating.
His faction members, who thought he had died, however, went on killing spree of members of the other factions. Their first victim was said to be an operator with a jetty company in Ijede.
At around 12am on Tuesday, another person was killed at Ipakan, a community bordering Ijede and Egbin communities. His body was said to have been recovered by the Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area, Hon. Jimoh Fathiu, Area N Commander, Mr Shonunbi and the Divisional Police Officer, Ijede Police Station.
The third suspected victim of the dastardly act was identified as ‘Alhaji Alhaji’ who was killed at Falilat Ogunsanya Street with his body said to have been gruesomely mutilated.
On Tuesday morning, another suspect was killed at a house close to De Crown hotel, Ijede, and on the same day, some suspected cultists were said to have pursued a member of a rival cult group into the premises of Luwasa High School, Ijede, during school hours and allegedly killed him in the presence of the fear stricken students to bring the number of victims of the deadly gang war to five.
The sixth victim was killed about 30 minutes after the Luwasa High School killing as another suspected cultist was hacked down at Igbe Ogoro area and around 5pm the same day, the seventh victim was said to have been shot close to the Ijede LCDA Secretariat.
Comrade Salisu Fathiu Jimoh, the Chairman of the council, speaking with THE IMPACT, stated that his administration has been able to curtail the violent activities of the rival cult groups until the recent clash.
“Cult activities, before my administration came on board, has been very volatile and the council is known in the state for cult related issues. But when we came in, we were able to arrest the situation to the extent that more than 500 youths renounced cultism within our 100 days in office.
“The former Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgal, and other important dignitaries were in attendance when these guys made their renouncement. It coincided with the day when our administration was celebrating its 100 days.
“Ever since that time, there wasn’t any clash that involves lives until Monday when the recent clash occurred. Before now, we have been managing the crisis.
Hon. Salisu stated that he was away on a meeting in Ikeja when he was inundated with calls and messages about the crisis and added that he returned to Ijede and learnt that somebody had been killed and his remains was deposited at the General Hospital, Ijede.
The Chairman, who was very disturbed by the killings despite his administration’s efforts in curtailing the cultism excesses in the council, explained why the crisis escalated.
“ The Eiye guys thought that their member who was stabbed would not survive the attack. They just went into town and started killing, members of the other factions.
“After we recovered the body of the second victim at Ipakan, we thought that was all but to our dismay, the following day around 6.30am, I got an information that they operated overnight and killed another person. The person killed was called ‘Alhaji Alhaji’. He was killed along Falilat Ogunsanya Street and his body was mutilated.
Hon. Salisu also explained how other five victims were killed and how the incident thrown the entire Ijede community into pandemonium.
“The fight actually started between Eiye and KKK cult groups but unfortunately, we learnt that two members of the Ake cult group were killed. The two victims that were killed at Luwasa High School and Igbe were identified as members of the Aye cult group”, he clarified.
He also confirmed the arrest of about four suspects arrested so far by the police around 2am on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, and THE IMPACT gathered that they have since been transferred to the State Command in Ikeja.
Hon. Fathiu, while commending officers of the Nigerian Police Force, 174 Battalion, Lagos Neighbourhood Watch and Civil Defence Corp for their prompt intervention, stated that the council is doing everything to address the situation.
When asked by our reporter on what could have led to the latest gang war, he said could not really fathom the reason but suggested war of words as what could have possibly caused the deadly crisis.
“From the investigation so far, I don’t really know what might have been their reason…”
“We operate in Ijede using who have renounced their cult membership as Coordinators to monitor the affairs of the cult groups and the coordinators have been doing well in that regard which is why we have not recorded any serious incidence since 2017 until this latest incident” , he said while recalling the efforts of the council in addressing cult attacks.
“Unfortunately, the young ones among these guys started this latest crisis that engulfed the town. At times, they will adduce that “o un fun mi lowun’ (his challenging me) “maa wo bo se nwo mi’ (look at the way he’s looking at me) as reasons of their violent engagements. Can these be taken as reasons that should cause crisis that led to many killings? ‘O un fun mi lohun’ led to the crisis that has engulfed us”, Hon. Fathiu stated satirically.
“I want to appreciate the security personnel in and outside this Division for their prompt intervention. Aside the fact that I went out late in the night with the Area N Commander and the DPO, the Commander also instructed all the DPOs under his jurisdiction to work hand in hand with the council which they did”.
“I have also been able to speak with the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Mr Abdullahi, on Monday night and today (Wednesday). I have also spoken with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (RRS), Mr Tunji Disu, and they have all sent their men to support us in arresting the situation”.
He added that after speaking with the Commanding Officer of 174 Battalion in Odogunyan, he has also received all necessary support as soldiers were deployed to the community and were still on ground as at press time.
“The soldiers are working with the men of the Nigerian Police Force to restore normalcy to the community.
“As a local government, in addition to the efforts stated, we have also written letters to the Governor’s office to intimate him on the situation in Ijede ditto to the office of the Commissioner of Police. The letters were sent on Tuesday, January 21 and today (Wednesday, January 22). We have also sent letters in that respect to the Offices of the Secretary to the State Government, Local Government Commission and the State Command of the DSS.
“Today (Wednesday), we have also called for an emergency meeting of the strategic committee on peace and security in Ijede which includes the Area Commander, Commanding Officer of 174 Battalion, Commander of MOPOL 63, Commander of Civil Defense, NDLEA and DSS. They were all in attendance with me this morning.
“We are together at the meeting alongside Obateru of Egbin, Alajede-in-Council and Baale of Ipakan”.
High Chief Babatunde Ogunmuyiwa, the Odofin of Ijede, speaking with our reporter on behalf of the Alajede-in-Council, stated that the Alajede-in-Council realized that there was a problem in the town when they gathered that one ‘Baba Osha’s son had been attacked and other subsequently killings.
“We were told by an Okada man that there was a fight on Monday but we could not pinpoint who were involved. But on Tuesday, we realized that it was a cult clash when we learnt about an incident involving two guys belonging to same cult and Baba Osha’s son who belonged to another cult group”, he stated.
“Since the incident started, we have been meeting with necessary stakeholders to ensure that the matter is resolved.
“Just today (Wednesday), while the Olisa and Aro of Ijede went for emergency security meeting at the local government, Otunba and I were engaged at Igbo Ajede (Ijede shrine) to do necessary rites expected of us in appeasing to the founder of Ijede, our ancestors and gods like Ogun, Esu among others.
Chief Ogunmuyiwa, who is the spokesperson and secretary of the Alajede-in-Council, stated that more than five people have been killed in the crisis.
“To the best of my knowledge, more than five suspected cultists have so far been killed. These are those that I confirmed by seeing their corpses. It may be more but from the information the Alajede-in-Council has gathered by visiting the scenes of the incident and seeing the corpse of the victims, five peoplehave killed so far”, the Odofin of Ijede tated.
He also commended the local council authority and men of the Nigerian Police, Army, RRS and Lagos Safety Corp for their interventions.
“The chairman of the council has been trying in ensuring that peace reigns in Ijede. So also are the Nigerian Police, men of the Nigerian Army, RRS and Lagos Safety Corps. I have been seeing their patrol vehicles around at strategic positions.
“On our own as the custodians of the traditional institution, we have been performing necessary rites and also appealing to the warring factions to ensure that peace reigns in our community. We believe that normalcy will return very soon because of the internal workings ad responses we have been able to marshal so far as a community”, he assured.
“In actual fact, we have started experiencing a peaceful environment unlike yesterday (Tuesday) when Ijede was a ghost town. Nobody can open his or her shop and the roads were deserted but things have started returning to normal. At least, you can see shops that are opened on palace road and people moving about”.
Also speaking with THE IMPACT, Otunba Adebayo Aba Ajanaku, the Otunba of Ijede, confirm the popular view that the problem started at a joint that is central to Ijede, Ipakan and Egbin.
According to Otunba, “The place is a central place near garage and market. The owner (a female) usually opens around 5am and closes around 12midnight. We learnt that a fight broke among the boys there”, he stated.
While corroborating the Council Chairman and Odofin of Ijede’s statements, Otunba Ajanaku stated:
“It escalated when the boy that was stabbed was thought to have died but we later learnt that he was not. He is currently recuperating at the hospital with his family raising fund for his treatment.
“The community has done its bit by ensuring that necessary rites are done, consultations made and the community well secured”
Otunba Ajanaku also informed our reporter that after due consultations with the necessary bodies, the woman who owns the ‘Paraga’ joint has been asked to leave the place.
“The community, after consultations with necessary associations, has asked the woman that owns the joint to vacate the place”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident, said that the crisis started when argument ensued between members of the gangs and one of them who was reportedly stabbed in ensued argument was believed to have died by his gang members, whereas he’s alive.
Elkana said the police responded accordingly by deploying their resources and added that 10 suspects have been arrested.
He said that the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the State, Hakeem Odumosu, immediately called for an emergency meeting where he deployed all the Area commanders and the DPO’s as well as the tactical commanders to where the incident occurred.
He said the CP has also deployed special strike force on social miscreants to deal with the issue.
According to him, the CP is determined to deal with cult menace in the State ruthlessly since the cult members have refused to grab the opportunity availed to them in 2017 when a program was organised for them across the State to renounce their membership of various cult groups.
