Wave of cultism among youths worry parents...as man killed for refusing to join cult

The family of Awosiga in Mowe, area of Ogun State since last week has been in distressed mood and anguish following the killing of their 20-year-old son killed by an alleged street gang group, notoriously known as Cult group that exists at the Berger-Isheri, area of Lagos state.

Adeleke Awosiga was allegedly killed at a birthday party organized by his alleged friend, identified as Anu Olokodana, with a nickname: T-Fire. He allegedly killed the deceased following a disagreement which ensued between them at the party.

The deceased and his assailant were childhood friends and had been at loggerheads as, Olokodana had been persuading him to join his cult gang but the deceased severally turned down the dirty offer, until Olokodana invited friends, including the deceased to a hotel at Isheri, on Saturday 21 June to celebrate his birthday.

It was gathered that trouble started at about 4.30am, when the celebrant’s girlfriend one Rashida Musco Oponmija, was dancing with another boy and the deceased requested to dance with her but she declined. The deceased felt insulted and replied that he was older than her, when the girl told him that she was older than the late Adeleke.

It was gathered that the incident later snowballed into an argument when one other alleged cult member identified as Iyanu Liasu, slapped the deceased before fight ensued between the two.

As the fight was going on, the deceased and Liasu were pushed out of the dancing hall, while some other gang friends went out to settle their differences but were later allowed to return back to the dancing hall.

It was gathered that the deceased along with other friends left the dancing hall to the hotel’s swimming pool side and when the party was over, the deceased stepped out of  the pool and asked his friend one Damola, to go and bring his clothes from where he kept it and by the time Damola returned, Adeleke was missing.

Another story had it that at that point, the celebrant rushed the deceased and challenged him over the settled old disagreement, both had and the celebrant’s friends, including one simply identified as Favour, who also belonged to the same cult group with the celebrant started beating the deceased and held on his neck, before the celebrant Anu, alleged twisted his friend’s neck. He died and was dumped into the swimming pool. The gangs disappeared into thin air, leaving the corpse of Adeleke floating on the pool until the deceased friends recovered the floating corpse from the swimming pool.

The friends rushed the deceased to a nearby hospital, with the help of policemen who were on patrol but he was confirmed dead. His corpse was taken to the General hospital Yaba mortuary where it was deposited for autopsy. The suspect Olokodana, and his girlfriend Rashida, are said to be on the run and efforts by the police and other search parties to trace them have failed.

Already, two suspects have been arrested by the police in connection with the incident. The suspects were arrested by youths in the area when they allegedly went to spy on the Awosiga’s family compound, to get information on their plans before the youths rounded them up. “Since they were not familiar faces here, we challenged them and requested to know their mission but they were unable to explain”, one of the youths explained.

“We apprehended them and took them to the Mowe, police station where they revealed that they belong to the same cult group with Olokodana and they were sent by him to find out what the family of the deceased were planning.”

The suspects had since been transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) Panti for a proper investigation. Head of the family of the deceased, Evangelist Adeyemi Awosiga of the Celestial Church of Christ Mowe 3; condemned the act and call for justice.

“It is wrong for anyone to terminate another person’s life just like that. The family is grief, all we want is justice. The suspect must be made to face the wrath of the law,” he stated.

Mrs Ololade Awosiga, mother of the deceased made a special appeal to the Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode and the Commissioner of Police Cornelius Aderanti to intervene and use this incident as a special case to ensure that justice prevails as it would serve as a deterrent to other youths in the state to stem the wave of cultism among youths.

Meanwhile, the suspected cult gang has in a show of supremacy and in solidarity to their wanted leader, subjected the entire residence of Cele, Ibedu and its environs into intermittent attacks.

The terror goons were alleged to have numbering stormed the area at about 8pm Monday 22 June, and ransacked the whole town, including shops, residential houses before robbing people of their belongings.

The suspects were said to have stormed the area in three buses and started attacking the residents and robbing them of their valuables ranging from money, mobile telephones and other valuables, while those who resisted or had nothing to offer them were severely dealt with.

Events like this are now daily occurrences in Nigeria, especially Lagos State. The wave of waves of cultism among youths of Oshodi, Mushin, Agege, Ikotun, Ajegunle, Okoko, Iyanoba, Ojota and other suburbs are worrisome. In January, a group of boys and suspected cult members in Afariogun area of Oshodi, Lagos, clashed leaving one person dead and several others severely injured.

It was reported that about 40 vehicles were also destroyed by the rampaging youths, while some buildings were also torched and shops looted. The suspected members of the Eye confraternity were said to have shattered of windows houses with machetes in an attempt to break into the building. Trouble started at about 11pm at a naming ceremony of one Jimoh Odekunle at Okeleye Street, Afariogun between some boys from Orile Oshodi and Afariougun Street and in the process, one Kamoru, said to have been severely injured died in an undisclosed hospital where he was rushed for treatment.

Heavy fight broke out when the news of his death filtered in to his colleagues, from Orile -Oshodi who reportedly embarked on a reprisal attack. Their first port of call was reportedly at the residence of one Sunday Anajonu, alleged to have been responsible for the death of their colleague.

Anajonu would have been murdered but for the timely intervention of policemen from Shomolu division. Whilst the clash lasted, some of the residents fled their residences to safety. By the time the left the scene of their crime, the gang had destroyed many and vandalised stores and looted money and goods. Five persons were arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

Police said a politician who stormed the area and dole out money, and those who were left in the lurch decided to protest and of course it was done violently. Reports said one of the factions was not happy about the sharing formula and engaged the other faction in a free-for-all, where two persons lost their lives.

As that wasn’t enough, two rival gangs clashed by the same warring gang over battle for supremacy, which claimed five lives.

Eyewitness said the incident had been preceded by sporadic gunshots on a night before the incident. Armed with dangerous weapons like guns, bottles and machetes, the rival gangs stormed Oshodi group before they began to unleash mayhem on themselves and motorists.

The hoodlums were said to have vandalised and razed vehicles whilst the fight was going on and they even went as far as molesting innocent pedestrians who unknowingly walked into the tense scene.

Five persons whose identities were yet to be identified were gunned down, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries as they attempted to scamper to safety when shooting started. It took the intervention of soldiers from the 9 brigade of the Ikeja Cantonment, to subdue the rival gangs.

Last year, in the Akoka area of Lagos State, Some suspected cultists abducted one Godwin Victor aka Sangba, said to be former leader of a gang, in the Akoka area of Lagos state.

Sangba was kidnapped by cultists, who were his friends and members of the gang he once led. The gang members were allegedly dissatisfied with his decision to leave the gang and embrace normal life.

It was gathered that his option to leave the gang was due to several harassment by the police and for his safety. The 30-year-old Akwa Ibom indigene was said to have returned from Port Harcourt, when he was abducted on June 5. Sangba’s wife, Eniola, said that her husband had returned from Port Harcourt because of numerous threats to his life.

“My husband is very popular in this community. Because of that, whenever there was a fight involving his friends and people’s property were destroyed, the police would arrest him.

“He became unhappy with the bad name they were giving him, and he called them and said he wanted to quit street fighting. He met other cult groups and appealed to them to embrace peace and lay down their weapons,” she reportedly said.

Eniola added that the groups agreed to a truce in December 2014; and a few months after, sanity returned to the area. However, some of Sangba’s friends, who were opposed to the development, attacked the man, who miraculously escaped death.

“From that time, he stopped coming to the house and started lodging in a hotel nearby. When the stress became too much for him, he decided to relocate to Port Harcourt. While he was away, there was another bloody clash in Bajulaiye and Ebute; two people were killed. When he heard, he was disturbed and told his friends to stop the fighting. He wondered what they were fighting for,” Eniola said.

On June 3, the victim reportedly returned to Lagos to look after his family and perfect plans to travel outside the country. “When he arrived, he called one of those boys, who he trusted, and told him that he only came to get his travelling documents,” the wife added.

According to police source, the victim was kidnapped by cult members who were loyal to late Segun Ogere, aka Shaggy. He was reportedly killed by suspected cultists while he was returning from a court, where he was the principal witness.

In another development, some gang members were causing trouble and killing innocent citizens in Makoko and other parts of Yaba Local Council Development Area were arrested in 2013. The dreaded gang, known in the area as Mosalamgbe and Citizens group were originally social platforms for age groups who mostly came together during social events such as carnivals but later metamorphosed into cult gang.

The group seeking to dominate their area graduated into criminal activities and started causing trouble in the area. Report said the gangs was later smashed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, led by Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, SP.

According to the police, Lekan Olaiya alias Abule is the ring leader of one of the groups, while Kamilu Oladimeji, the alleged owner of five guns is the leader of the other group. Olaiya was also said to have acquired six guns used by members of his gang.

Police also disclosed that the gangs had killed over eight persons since they started operation. Among the suspects were Kamilu Oladimeji, 20, Dare Adewale 27, and Bakare Azeez, said to be members of Mosalamgbe group which has its base in Makoko area of Yaba.

Others were Irelola Shokeye 23, Edun Adesina a.k.a Sambo oko Ashawo, 20, Kazeem Igbalaye a.k.a Oba, and Lekan Olaiya a.k.a Abule said to be members of the Citizen Group with base at Iwaya area of Yaba.

The leader of the group, Kamilu confessed that the group was originally formed for the purpose of organizing carnivals and social gatherings in 2008 and 2009, but found themselves engaging in politics with each group pitching tents with opposing politicians. However, none of the suspects agreed that they were sponsored to fight, kill or receive any gratification for what they did.

“Nobody died but many people were injured. My mother’s shop was destroyed and my father became paralysed”, said Kamilu. Adewale said he was arrested because of the fight between his gang and Citizen boys.

“I was arrested in the fight I took part, only one person died. His name was John Ibafo. He belonged to Citizen Gang. The fight took place around June this year”. We don’t use guns. It was our boss Waidi Ali a.k.a Waidi Wash that used gun. He escaped from arrest.

Bakare Azeez, 24, from Oyo State said; “I got my gun from ‘Wash’. I was only involved in the killing of John. He was stabbed to death”.

For 23 year-old Ishola Shokeye from Igbeyin in Ogun State who confessed to belong to Citizen Group; “I was arrested because of the fight with Mosalamgbe group. It was political and supremacy fights. In our side, three people died. They were Jeremiah, John and Odun Ayo. In their camp, only one person called Lati died. He was killed by Oyingbo Boys. We had stopped fighting; we did not kill him. There was fight in Oyingbo with Otto boys; he was supporting Otto boys. The guns we used were owned by Esin. He used to bring gun to us”.

Edu Adesina a.k.a Sambo Oko Ashawo, from Abeokuta in Ogun State, confessed belonging to Citizen Gang.

The 20-year old who claimed to be a cobbler said; “When I came from work, I stayed with the group, played draught and ludo. The other group came to fight us and I joined in throwing bottles at them. The only person I knew that died was John”. Kazeem Igbalaye a.k.a Oba, 33, also confessed belonging to Citizen Gang.

He said; “It was one of my friends, Ewure that provided us with gun. I had two guns, but police had taken them from me. My group killed two people. Lekan Olaiya was our leader. I’m married with a child. The fight was political”.

Lekan Olaiya, a.k.a Abule, aged 30 said; “I am from Akinsemoyin family in Lagos. We used to fight in the Streets. I am the leader of Citizen Group. I formed the group because all of us were born there. It was like a carnival group. It was our friend Rotimi a.k.a Esin that provided guns for us. We had six guns; police recovered two and Esin (Rotimi Awoniyi), escaped with four. We killed only one Akin Lapa. He fell down while we were fighting and we stabbed him.”

Parents who spoke to our correspondent expressed concern at the growing wave of cult and gang streets ravaging Lagos State and called on the Police and the government quench the fire before it consumes the city.