Joy Anyim
A wanted notorious cultist allegedly involved in the recent killings and looting of property in Ijora Badia area in the Apapa-Iganmu Council Area of Lagos, has been arrested by the police.
Sikiru Saliu (also known as Senator), was arrested alongside two of his gang members -Ibrahim Kareem and Quadri Bashun- for triggering a two-week long fracas between rival cult groups, Suara Boys and Railway Boys.
The fracas, it was learnt, had claimed seven lives including that of a marketing staffer of Leadway Assurance Company, Muyideen Saka who was hit by a stray bullet.
The Nigerian Xpress correspondent gathered that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP, Imohimi Edgal who was briefed on the clash had directed the Badia Divisional Police Officer, CSP Odutona Daniel to fish out and arrest the suspected cultists as well as ensure peace return to the area.
Following the order, the Divisional Police Officer who had acted on a tip-off that Senator and his boys were meeting at the White Sand area in Badia led a team of armed policemen to the hideout and arrested the suspects.
When The Nigerian Xpress visited the area, residents were seen jubilating over the arrest of the suspect. According to them, it had been a reign of terror with Senator and his gang.
A resident who preferred anonymity for security reasons said the community had been under the seige of the terror gang. “This Senator and his boys can be passing and pilfer things from your shop and you do not have a right to challenge them. If you do, you are attacked. He belongs to the Suara faction of the warring cult groups and when they start with their fighting, everyone runs for safety.
“They kill themselves and even innocent people. Movement at night had become so risky that shops close before time and even those who work far away rush home early. We are very much grateful to the new divisional police officer for arresting this evil cultist. We also expect that other members of his gang and the other warring gangs be arrested.”
Senator who spoke to The Nigerian Xpress correspondent denied the allegations, insisting he was only involved in robbery and not the killings in the area.
He said he was neither a part of the Suara boys or the Railway boys. “I am 25 years old and I am not a cultist, I only rob. When I and my gang attack people, we collect their phones, money and other valuables. We sell the valuables and phones and share the money equally.”
“We were 10 of us in the gang and I am not the gang leader. Eshu is our gang leader and he is the one who keeps the gun we use during operation. I have not killed anyone in my life,” he said.
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Similarly, 24-year-old Kareem who claimed to be a barber said he joined the gang with the intention to raise money to rent a shop and start his barbing business.
He said, “It was poverty that forced me into robbery. I learnt barbing and had been sourcing for funds to establish myself. When my family could not raise the needed amount to get me a shop, I chose to join my friends who were into robbery.
“My plan was to rob for sometime and then raise the money to rent a shop, furnish it and then quit robbery. But unfortunately, I was caught before I could make that happen. I am not a cultist and have never been involved in any cult-related activity.”
Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Chike Oti confirmed the arrest of the suspected cultists. According to him, Senator and his boys had been fomenting trouble in the area.
He said, “Yes I can confirm that a notorious cultist nicknamed Senator has been arrested. His arrest followed a directive by the commissioner of police to the DPO in charge to stop the many activities of cultists and restore sanity in the area. Investigations have been completed and the suspects have been charged to court accordingly.”
Oti said the suspects’ arrest showed that that there was no hiding place for criminals in the state, adding, “Anyone whose action or inaction constitutes a security breach in Lagos will be made to face the wrath of the law.”
The suspects had been remanded in prison custody following their arraignment in court.