Bariga cult clash: Police arrests gang leader, six others

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested seven suspected cultists who engaged in supremacy battle in Bariga area of the State on Saturday, leading to the killing of a 65-year-old woman.

The deceased, Adejoke Adefuye was burnt beyond recognition when her house located at 19, Oshinfolarin Street in Bariga was set ablaze by the rival cult groups.

Trouble had started when members of Eiye confraternity led by one Ibrahim Balogun clashed with another rival cult group known as Aiye confraternity led by a man simply identified as Gideon in a supremacy fight at the area.

The cultists, according to reports, vandalized some vehicles parked along the road in the area, while two members of the Aiye confraternity known as Bobo and Abayomi Olubola lost their lives in the fracas.

A statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Dolapo Badmus, confirmed the arrest of the cultists, as well as some of arms and ammunition used to carry out the operation.

Badmus said the second in command of one of the cult groups was among those arrested, while three power bikes, one live/expended cartridges and a tricycle popularly known as Keke Marwa used to get to the scene were also confiscated.

She said the cultists have been terrorizing the area for some days and that they were able to make some arrests due to the quick response to the distress calls received concerning the fracas.

Those arrested, according to Badmus include Afees Olaide Fagunwa, Nurudeen Lateef, Richard Ewa, Richard Abayomi, Mohammed Musa, Kayode Dada and Adams Adelakun.

She said that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Gbagada General Hospital for autopsy by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) while other occupants of the burnt building who sustained minor injuries were treated by the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).

She said that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti for further investigation.