The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command at the weekend, arrested seven members of the Eiye Confraternity, after they had robbed successfully at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. The leader of cult group, 35-year-old Andrew Awalebi, was arrested at the Jakande Estate area of Ajah, at a beer parlour in company of four other cult members- 24-year-old Michael Thompson, 17-year-old Koffi Kwame, 36-year-old Daniel Olayiwola and 26-year-old Tosin Issac. After they were arrested, the RRS also swung into action and picked up the duo of 30-year-old Adegoke Adeleke and 31-year-old Kehinde Adebogun, at a hotel in Ikorodu, and they also confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity.
Awalebi, who said he worked with a popular land owner in Lekki, said he earns N40,000 monthly from the property dealer by helping to protect his landed property in the axis. While disclosing that he was insured against any gunshot wound by the protective charm specially prepared for him by an herbalist in Ijebu – Isiwo, Ogun State, he said he was initiated into the Confraternity in 1996.
He said, “I was initiated into Eiye in 1996 and later in 1997 I was promoted as its topmost leader after the death of Banji Omisore. We are an eight member cult group.
“We meet very early in the morning or late at night. I have been arrested by Special Anti – Robbery Squad sometimes ago when my cult group caused mayhem in Jakande Estate, inflicting injuries on passers-by in the area.”
While confirming the arrests, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police, warned parents and guardians to be wary of their children and wards’ behaviors.
She said, “Charity begins at home. But this should end there. Parents should help police to tackle cultism in their respective localities.
“They should endeavor to report to the nearest police station around them if they suspect movements of their children, this will help the Police to nip the cultism to the bud.”
The cult suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigative and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation and prosecution.