A notorious cultist, Ogunlaja Elijah, who has been on the wanted list of the Lagos State Police Command, following alleged killings of rival members and innocent persons in Lagos, yesterday, broke down in tears in an apparent expression of remorse over his misdeeds.
The suspect’s arrest came as relief for residents of Shomolu/Bariga area of Lagos, as they claimed he had unleashed mayhem on several of them.
Narrating how he killed two persons last year, 28-year-old Elijah, who was arrested alongside two other suspected cultists, Yesuru Adesanya and Kunle Osnowo, said: “ I live in Oworoshoki area of Lagos. I was initiated into cultism in 2016 when I accompanied my friend to his father’s burial in Osun State. When we came back to Lagos, I started my cult gang.
“Sometime last year, there was trouble and they shot one of my friends. Also in November last year, my cousin was killed during a clash with a rival gang. “At the end of the clash, I killed two people. One of them was from Benue State. I shot him and another person he came with and collected their belongings. “When the police arrested me , I was charged to court but was released in March 2019. Since my return from prison, I have been visiting the hospital to see my ailing mother. I feel sorry for the family of the people I killed.” On his part, Yesuru Adesanya said he was lured by a friend to Fadeyi, where he was forcefully initiated.
He said: “My friend capitalised on my illiteracy to lure me into cultism. Immediately I got to Fadeyi, I called him. But to my shock, people surrounded me and asked me to pull off my clothes. That was how I was initiated into cultism. I have not killed anyone since I joined Eiye Confraternity. And I am not part of those terrorising Shomolu/ Bariga. Immediately I was initiated, I joined NURTW at Jibowu. “I was at home when I heard that they have killed Small Jpron. Small Jpron in Bariga had gone on the rampage in the community while I reside at Shomolu.
For 38-year- old, Kunle Osnowo, he said: “ I blame myself for everything, if I am released from police custody, I will renounce my cult association. If the government want to put an end to cult-related activities, they must hold peace talks within the community, considering the fact that there are different cult gangs in different areas.
Benue Police arrests 5-man robbery gang Meanwhile, Benue State Police Command has arrested a five-man robbery gang, who specialised in robbing unsuspecting motorists in the state.
Also nabbed in the special operation by the command were 10 young men suspected to be members of dreaded cult groups in Otukpo and Makurdi local government areas of the state with 12 firearms, five live cartridges, two expended cartridges and 11 live ammunition recovered from the suspects. Parading the suspects, yesterday, at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi, the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Omololu Bishi, explained that the five-man robbery gang was arrested after a distress call from a victim.
vanguardngr