One of the seven cult members arrested for terrorising Odi-Olowo area of Mushin, Lagos State, confessed to have joined cultism because he wanted to belong to big boys’ league in his community. The 34-year-old suspect, Jide Alade, was arrested along with Quam Owolabi (28), Michael Echo (38), Adegbola Idris (28), Mufutau Abogunde (34), Rasiki Sahittu (34) and Oluwasina Lawal (18).
The suspects were arrested at Odi-Olowo area of Mushin on March 22. The police said that the suspects were picked up while they were attempting to unleash terror on their rivals in the community. Four axes, five machetes, three jack knives, two daggers and assorted charms were recovered from them.
The state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects, said they were arrested based on information. He said: “Based on information received, the special Anti-Robbery Squad teams, in collaboration with the command’s undercover operatives swung into action and arrested the cult members and recovered their arms.” The alleged leader of the gang, Alade, said that they were heading to a venue, to protect a member of the group, when police appeared from nowhere and grabbed them.
He said: “When we heard that our rivals were coming to strike, we mobilised ourselves and went straight to the area to give our member cover; that was what we were trying to do, before policemen came and arrested us. I was initiated into the cult group because I wanted to belong to the big boys’ league in the community. Since I joined, I have never killed anyone.”
Echo said that he joined Eiye Cult group in order to get a job as a motorcycle ‘ticketer.’ He said that he was in the house when policemen came to arrest him, accusing him of being among those who used to cause trouble in the community. Lawal, however, denied being a cult member. He said that he just stepped out to buy groundnut when policemen arrested him, accusing him of being a cultist.
He said: “The arms they displayed were not for us. I don’t know where they got the guns and other dangerous weapons from. I don’t know anything about cultism.” Adris, Murphy and Shittu also denied being members of the cult group, insisting they were arrested in their various houses.