A 35-year-old suspected cult member, Andrew Awalebi, shocked operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos, when he openly bragged that no bullet could penetrate his body. Awalebi was arrested over the weekend at Jakande Estate, Ajah area, Lagos State.
“The charm against gunshot was specially prepared for me by a herbalist in Ijebu-Isiwo, Ogun State, to save me from gunshots of land grabbers in Lekki,” he told investigators. The suspect, who confessed that be belonged to Eiye Confraternity, was arrested about 8a.m. on Friday at a drinking pub with three other suspected cult members.
Two other members of the cult group, Adegoke Adeleke (30) and Kehinde Adebogun (31), were also picked up early Saturday morning at a hotel in Ikorodu. According to the police, Awalebi was arrested after a member of Eiye Confraternity, Michael Thompson (24), who was arrested earlier, fingered him as their leader.
Thompson was arrested a night before for robbery at National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Awalebi, who disclosed that he worked with a popular land owner in Lekki, said that he used to earn N40,000 monthly from the property dealer for assisting him to protect his landed property in the axis.
He added: “I was initiated into Eiye Confraternity in 1996 by Banji Omisore and later in 1997. I was promoted as its topmost leader after the death of Omisore. We are eight members. We used to meet very early in the morning or late at night.
I have been arrested by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), sometimes ago when my cult group caused mayhem at the Jakande Estate, inflicting injuries on passers-by in the area.” Other arrested cult members are Koffi Kwame (17), Daniel Olayiwola (36) and Tosin Issac (26).
It was alleged that they had all confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the arrests, warned parents and guardians to be wary of their children and wards’ behaviour. She said: “Charity begins at home.
Parents should help police to tackle cultism in their respective localities. They should endeavor to report to the nearest police station around them if they suspect movements of their children. This will help the police to nip cultism in the bud.” Badmos added that the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID), Panti, for prosecution.
