We uncovered den of destitutes, say police
Chiemelie Ezeobi
Pandemonium thursday erupted at the Ile-Zik area of Lagos on the Abeokuta Expressway, when another tunnel was uncovered by residents and some persons of questionable character were found there.
Owing to last Wednesday’s discovery of another tunnel where ritualists hide to perpetuate their nefarious activities at Obadeyi bus-stop, Ijaiye area of the state, yesterday’s discovery was a scare.
The news which first made the rounds on the social media had claimed that the tunnel was the hideout of ritualists, which had two suspects hidden inside.
Reports had also claimed that the two suspects arrested were in possession of an iPhone and looked sane until they were accosted by residents and they began to act like mentally deranged persons.
Almost re-enacting the Obadeyi scenario, where two of the suspects were burnt to death by an irate crowd after two victims were recovered from the tunnel, the actions of the residents of Ile-Zik was foiled by the police.
The crowd who was baying for the blood of the two suspects found inside the tunnel, had set plans in motion to lynch them first and then set them ablaze.
Immediately the news broke out, the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Tunji Disu and other police officers stormed the area and arrested two of the suspected ritualists.
However, although their prompt response saved the suspects from being burnt alive, they were already seriously beaten.
Although he confirmed the arrests, the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said it was a case of a destitute living inside the tunnel, as against the case of ritual as was being touted.
He said: “We have to stop this culture of jungle justice and allow the law take its course. This matter is a pure case of destitute and not ritualists.â€
