Kunle Adelabu
While the rest of the state have been battling with mayhem by hoodlums who have been looting and burning public and private properties since Tuesday, October 20, 2020, Ikorodu has been contending with killings by members of rival cult groups who have resumed hostility by engaging one another.
The recent resurgence in cult activities between Eiye and Aye cult groups, THE IMPACT gathered, started on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, when members of the Aye group allegedly killed a suspected member of the Eiye cult group at the Ikorodu garage roundabout.
In retaliating the murder of one of their own, it was gathered that Eiye group allegedly killed an innocent young man named Rahmon at Benson which is known as a notorious area for cult activities and other social vices.
Members of the two groups were said to have regrouped in various parts of Ikorodu searching for members of their rival cult groups for retaliation, a situation which created serious tension in the community at a time when residents were also battling with the effects of the curfew declared on Tuesday (October 20) by the Lagos State Government to forestall the riot sparked by the alleged killings of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza the same day.
A suspected leader of the Aye cult group called Ajax (not real name), who we gathered had killed many members of the rival group and had been declared wanted, was shot by a member of the Eiye cult group in his mouth on Tuesday evening. According to report, the force of the bullet penetration shattered his mouth and brain.
He was said to have been attacked and killed alongside a member of the Aye cult group, Lekan, popularly called ‘Gala’.
After Ajax was attacked, a controversy was said to have erupted at Solomade, another notorious area in Ikorodu, where he was said to have perpetrated his cult activities over the years as some were saying that he survived the attack while others maintained that he died.
A senior official of the Onyabo Vigilance Group, however, revealed to our reporter on Thursday that he did not survive the attack.
While killings were going on in Ikorodu, similar attack among the same two cult factions reportedly ensued in Igbogbo, another den of cultists.
It was gathered that members of the two groups created serious tension at Basorun, Igbe and Elepe axis of Igbogbo with both sides recording casualties.
Comrade Lekan Pelumi, a chieftain of the Onyabo Vigilance group, speaking with our reporter, said that the vigilance group are only aware of the killing of two suspected cultists in Elepe and Basorun areas in Igbogbo.
While it was gathered that the suspected cultist killed at Elepe was a member of the Aye cult group, sources revealed that the one killed in Igbogbo was a member of the Eye cult group.
Another source also stated that the guy killed in Igbogbo was not a cult member but a robber and added that he was killed by members of the Aye cult group.
A headless body was also discovered to have been dumped close to the Igbogbo cemetery early Wednesday morning. Although, could not be immediately ascertained if the murder was cult related.
It was also gathered that was also cult related incidents at Igbe – Laara in Igbogbo during the week.
Meanwhile, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, has expressed serious concern over the ceaseless killings and unrest caused by the attacks among the rival cult groups in Igbogbo.
He stated that there is need for concerted efforts by all stakeholders in dealing with the menace in order to bring it to an end.
Oba Kasali, who spoke with our reporter on phone, also appealed to residents of Igbogbo community to stay in their various houses since there is curfew to avoid being caught in the crossfire of the supremacy battle among the cult groups.
He also charged local security groups to assist in dealing with the resurgence of the cult supremacy battle in the community.
The Chairman of the Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, while also speaking with THE IMPACT on the matter, said that plans were already underway to, once again, parley with members of the rivalry cult groups before the outbreak of the #EndSARS protest brouhaha.
He, however, said that the council will engage other stakeholders on the issue.
“In actual fact, some of them have been calling me for intervention before the #EndSARS protest and I have been planning how to engage them.
“They want us to intervene and help them settle the matter but I don’t want to do it alone. I want to involve all the elected representatives in Ikorodu, traditional institution, security agencies and other stakeholders.
“We need to find lasting solutions to this menace once and for all”.
Hon. Titilola Adegboyega, the Vice Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, also speaking with THE IMPACT on phone, said that the council authority is not folding its hands on the matter despite the curfew.
He said that a lot of underground interventions are ongoing to deal with the situation, while also appealing to residents to obey the government’s curfew order and remain safe indoors.
He confirmed the cult related incidents in Igbogbo in the last few days and the discovery of the headless body dumped at the Igbogbo cemetery.
