A suspected cult leader, Andrew Awalebi, has told operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command that no amount of bullets can pierce through his body.
Awalebi, a suspected member of the Eiye Confraternity, reportedly told the police that a charm he got from an herbalist made him to be invincible to bullets.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the 35-year-old suspect was arrested on Friday at a pub in Jakande Estate in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
He was said to be in company with three other suspected members of his gang when the police swooped on them around 8am.
Our correspondent gathered that the RRS operatives had got information on Awalebi’s movements from a member of the gang, Michael Thompson, who had earlier been arrested for robbery.
Awalebi, in his statement to the police, allegedly said he worked for a popular landowner in the Lekki area, adding that he earned N40,000 monthly for securing the landed property of his boss.
He explained that his protective charm against gunshots was prepared for him by an herbalist in the Ijebu-Isiwo area of Ogun State, adding that the charm was to save him from gunshots of land grabbers in Lekki.
“I was initiated into the Eiye Confraternity in 1996 by one Banji. Later in 1997, I was promoted as its topmost leader after the death of Banji.
“We were eight members in the cult group. We meet very early in the morning or late at night. I was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad sometime ago when my cult group caused mayhem in Jakande Estate, inflicting injuries on passersby in the area,” he added.
The indigene of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, was reportedly given out by Thompson of the same cult, who was arrested for robbery at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Thompson, in his confessional statement, had allegedly said Awalebi was the leader of the group.
Also arrested alongside Awalebi were Koffi Kwame (17), Daniel Olayiwola (36) and Tosin Issac (26).
The police claimed that the suspects all confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity.
The RRS said information from the suspects led to a raid on a hotel in the Ikorodu area on Saturday, where it made another set of arrests of suspected members of the group, which included Adegoke Adeleke and Kehinde Adebogun.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the arrests, appealed to parents and guardians to help the police fight cultism.
She said, “Parents should help the police to tackle cultism by properly monitoring the activities of their children. They should also report to the nearest police station if they suspect any unwholesome attitude of any friend of their children. This will help the police to nip cultism in the bud.”
Badmos said the suspects had been transferred to the Lagos State Department of Criminal Investigation for prosecution.
