LAGOS: 15 arrested, risk 21-year jail term as rival cult groups clash in Ketu

AT least 15 members of three cult groups have been arrested by the police following a clash among rival cultists in the Ketu Area of the state.

It was gathered that the fracas started when members of the Eye, Aiye and Buccaneer cult groups engaged in a battle of supremacy over who should collect revenue at the popular Ketu market. 

The development was said to have grounded economic activities in the axis as traders stayed off the zone.

The Lagos State Police Command in a statement by its spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, however, said normalcy has been restored to the area.

The statement was titled, ‘Ikosi/Ketu Crisis: Police Restore Normalcy, Arrest 15 With Weapons’.

 It read, “The Lagos State Police Command has restored normalcy to the Ikosi/Ketu area of Lagos State after a clash that occurred today Wednesday 17th March, 2021 at 6am amongst some suspected cult groups, Eye, Aiye and Buccaneer, as fifteen (15) suspects were arrested.

“Two (2) locally made pistols, some live cartridges, assorted charms etc were recovered from the suspects.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who had deployed policemen including the Rapid Response Squad and Taskforce to the area to quench the crisis and restore normalcy to the area, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for discreet Investigation.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the crisis was connected to the revenue generation at the Ketu fruits market; and efforts are in top gear to apprehend other fleeing members of the gangs that orchestrated crisis in the area.

“The Commissioner of Police has however reiterated the command’s commitment to fighting crimes and criminality, especially cultism, in the state. He stated that the command will harness all legitimate means to suppress cultists’ activities in the state.”

This happened two days after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, approved a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists in the state after signing the bill for the Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021.

The State’s House of Assembly, in February, passed the anti-cultism bill, which also stipulates a 15-year jail term for anyone found guilty of abetting cultists and residents who willfully allow their properties to be used as meeting points by cultists.