LAGOS POLICE ARREST 87 BADOO CULTISTS,DECLARES 20 WANTED
The Lagos Police Command has arrested 87 suspected Badoo cult members and declared 20 others wanted in connection with activities of the group in Ikorodu.
This was made known on Friday by Public Relations Officer of the command,Olarinde Famous-Cole ,addiing that the operation was carried out in conjuction with other security agencies and local security volunteers
He said ‘In continuation of its clamp down on suspected Badoo members, Lagos State Police Command, in collaboration with other security agencies and local security volunteers have arrested 87 suspected Badoo members while declaring 20 other people wanted in connection with activities of the group in Ikorodu’.
Famous-Cole said,the 87 suspected Badoo members were arrested in an all-night operation on their hideouts in Owutu and Odongunyan in Ikorodu.
He added further that those declared wanted for cult related killings include: Moshood (a.k.a Mosho); Alfa (a.k.a King of Boys); Papa; Fela; Alakoto and Chukwudi.
The spokesman said the command also declared 14 others wanted for kidnapping in Ikorodu,stating that they include: Agbara; O/C; Femi (a.k.a FM); Pencil, Odidan; Jaru; Allen; Bush; Happiness; Fagbo; Junior; Nuru and Jamiu.
‘The police called on the suspects to come out of their hideouts and report themselves to the nearest police station. The Command equally advised members of the public with useful information on the suspects who are all residents of Ikorodu to assist the police’,he said.
‘The raid was an extensive operation on the two areas – Odongunyan and Owutu. The operation was necessitated by more intelligence on the membership of the dreaded cult group and their mode of operations’.
’Before the operations, the police in conjunction with members of the Department of State Security Service, representatives of the Nigerian Army, Lagos Neighbourhood Security Corps and Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) met with herbalists and Babalawos in Ikorodu and its suburbs on the need to collaborate with the police to wipe out the cult group in Ikorodu’,he stated.
He explained that,at the meeting, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni warned the herbalists and local vigilantes to eschew jungle justice, stressing that the Command would not tolerate further excesses from the security stakeholders.
The commissioner represented by his Deputy, Imohimi Edgal solicited for more information that would help the police to speedily end the activities of the group in the area.
He said,the Police Commissioners later met with traditional rulers in Ikorodu,adding that also involved in the exercise were the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Olatunji Disu; Acting Area Commander, Ikorodu and all Divisional Police Officers in Ikorodu among other senior police officers.
