The
group, according to a top security source, sells the handkerchief,
which the terror group use to clean the blood of their victims, for a
whooping N500,000 to some highly placed Nigerians.
“We
heard they sell one handkerchief containing the blood of their victims
for N500,000 to highly placed Nigerians. The police must urgently
investigate this lead in order to put an end to this menace, so that
residents can sleep with two eyes closed in Ikorodu.”
The
police, which is now investigating the veracity of that information,
engaged in joint operations with the Rapid Response Squad (RRS),
Department of State Services (DSS), Lagos State Task Force, the Oodua
People’s Congress (OPC) and local vigilance groups to raid the dreaded
group’s black spots at Igbobo/Bayeku, Ibeshe, Ijede and Imota at the
weekend.
This
came few days after a closed-door emergency stakeholders meeting was
held between officials of the Lagos State police command and National
Leader of the OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, with leaders of other vigilance
groups over the security challenge in Ikorodu.
The
operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of
Operations, Edgal Imohinmi, with over 100 suspected members of the cult
group arrested during the raid.
There
was a brief meeting with the security agencies and local vigilance
groups at Ipakodo division before the raid took off from Ibeshe, where
majority of the suspects were arrested.
An OPC member, Mr. Abiodun Akerejola, a.k.a. Ojolebua, who spoke to crime reporters, said the raid was a welcome development.
“The
issue of Badoo and other cult activities in Ikorodu and environs should
give everyone some concern and not only the police. We do not know the
next family or person they may attacked,” Akerejola said.
Mr. Balogun Moses, a resident in one of the communities, said:
“If
the raid is maintained on a regular basis, crime rate would be
drastically reduced. We commend the effort of all the security agencies
and local vigilance groups, who know the terrain. Everyone can have some
respite now. For the past eight months, Ikorodu was on the news daily
for negative stories.”
Meanwhile,
angry residents went berserk in the early hours of yesterday, lynching
three suspected members of the Badoo cult in Odogunyan area of Ikorodu.
The
suspects were caught around 2a.m. in an SUV and were flagged down by
residents who were doing stop and search around Odogunyan junction. It
was gathered that a big stone, diesel and a cutlass were found in the
vehicle.
The
suspects reportedly could not offer any explanation as to what they
used the objects for and where they were heading. They were subsequently
beaten up and burnt to death together with the vehicle.
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole,
confirmed the incident, urging residents to desist from jungle justice.
The
PPRO confirmed that over 100 Badoo suspects had been arrested across
Ikorodu, adding that investigations were ongoing to screen out innocent
persons among them.
He
said: “We can confirm the arrest of 100 suspected members of the
dreaded cult group, and they are helping with ongoing investigation into
the activities of the gang. Government is on top of the situation and
we like to use this medium to caution the people to desist from jungle
justice.
“We
also like to assure residents that they are free to go about their
normal activities without let or hindrance, as the police and other
security agencies in the state are poised to make Lagos uncomfortable
and hot for criminal elements to perpetrate their nefarious activities.”
Also,
it was reported that in another incident, a heroic dog prevented
suspected Badoo members from carrying out an attack in Ikorodu
yesterday.
According to a resident of the area, who shared the story on his social media page and posted images of a wounded dog, he wrote:
“In
spite of the recent raids, let’s be vigilant. Badoo deadly group are
still at work. Around 1a.m. on Sunday, they wanted to enter a house in
my area at Ojogbe, but their dog stopped them by barking loudly.
“In
frustration, they stabbed the dog. Am not sure the dog is going to
survive the stabbing because it has been bleeding seriously all day. May
God continue to guide and protect us. At this stage, it is only God
that can help us in Ikorodu.”
Despite
the declaration of traditional rituals by Ikorodu chiefs and
traditionalists on Friday to halt the activities of the killer gang,
they stormed the Jumofak area of Igbo-Oluwo in Ikorodu around 1a.m.
This
time, the gang of three ran out of luck as local vigilance team arrived
the scene as they were trying to break into one apartment near a gas
station in the area.
The vigilance team, however, apprehended one of the suspects while the other two took to their heels.
Eyewitnesses’
account said the trio were naked and rubbed their bodies with engine
oil but it could not be ascertained if they were in possession of
objects like hammers, white handkerchiefs and grinding stones that the
gang was noted for.
CULLED FROM GUARDIAN
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