Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad attached to the Lagos State Police Command, have arrested one of the notorious cult leaders terrorising Adeniji Adele community in Lagos Island.
The suspected cult leader, Seun Ayeni, alongside other members of the group, had allegedly unleashed mayhem on the community, injuring several residents and dispossessing them of their belongings.
Sources told our correspondent that the cult group headed by Ayeni and one Segun Omobola, had raided houses of residents within the community and robbed them at gun point.
It was further learnt that the cult gang headed by Ayeni also laid siege to Pelewura Market at night and robbed several traders at gun point.
One of the victims of the cultists’ raid at the popular Pelewura Market in the area, Mariam Suleiman, told our correspondent that Ayeni, along with other members of his group, numbering about ten waylaid her at about 9pm and robbed her of money and other valuables.
According to her, she was mercilessly beaten by Seun and his gang before the sum of N53, 500 was forcibly collected from her. She also added that her mobile phone was also taken from her.
“They all attacked me in the market around 9pm, when I was on my way home. I was still within the market when they accosted me with various dangerous weapons. Some of them were with cutlass while one of them pointed a gun at me. Initially, I wanted to resist them, but when I realised they were many, I had to submit to them. In the process, they started beating me while they collected N53, 000 and my mobile phone from me. After the whole thing, Ayeni specifically told me that if I reported to police or people in the area, they would kill me. But the following day, I reported the case at Adeniji Adele police division,” she said.
Meanwhile, residents of the community said they had been held hostage by Ayeni and his gang perpetrating various atrocities in the area.
Babalola Ayinde, a resident of Pele Wura community, said, “Ayeni and his group have turned themselves to a terror in this community. On several occasions, we have seen them robbing residents even in the afternoon. Some days ago, they descended on Pelewura market at night and robbed several people. The case was reported at Adeniji Adele Police Station.”
Our correspondent also gathered that Ayeni and his gang members also attacked a resident of the community, Wasiu Baale, with machete and injured him.
Residents said the cult group had received information that Wasiu was one of the informants hinting the police about their activities in the area.
“They nearly killed Wasiu some days ago. We learned that they said Wasiu was one of the people that usually informed the police about them. They were led by Seun Ayeni and Segun Omobola. Both of them are already on Zone One’s wanted list. They attacked Wasiu that day in his house with cutlass. It took the intervention of Mrs. Ola Williams, who spent a lot of money for him to be brought back to life in hospital”, Tawa Yusuf, a resident, told our correspondent.
Meanwhile, a community leader, Mrs. Ola Williams, has called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, not to relent in his efforts to rid Lagos Island of criminals.
Williams said criminals were gradually returning to the Adeniji community in Lagos Island.
“Activities of the cult groups are gradually returning to our community and we need the commissioner of police and his men to help us curtail them. We know that Mr. Edgal is a no-nonsense man,” she said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Chike Oti, said, “Police will ensure all hands are on deck to ensure safety of lives and property
in Lagos”.
