Chiemelie Ezeobi
A joint security taskforce wednesday raided four flashpoints at the Ikorodu area of Lagos State and arrested about 133 suspects in connection with their alleged involvement in cultism and the Badoo gang, a notorious ritual group.
The taskforce comprised of operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Department of State Services (DSS),
Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC), as well as Onyabo and local vigilantes.
Led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Edgal Imohimi; RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu, and the LNSC Chairman, Mr. Israel Ajao, a retired Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG), the taskforce set out to curb the increasing Badoo menace and other cult-related activities.
The raid, which began early in the morning and wound up in the afternoon, saw the taskforce comb blackspots and flashpoints known as hideouts for cultists and Badoo members.
The combed areas include Bayekun, Ikorodu main town, Igbogbo and Majidun and it was the latter that yielded a good number of the arrested 133 suspects.
Already, as at press time, the suspects have been moved to the Oshodi headquarters of the Lagos State taskforce for screening.
When contacted, RRS Commander, ACP Disu, said they went on a raid of all cult known areas in conjunction with the state police command operatives, DSS, LSNC, OPC, Onyabo and local vigilantes.
He said: “After combing several criminal hideouts in Ikorodu and its suburbs, scores were nabbed.
“Those arrested are suspects. They are to be screened. Arrests were based on intelligence and in conjunction with local vigilantes.
“We went on the raid of those communities because of the activities of Badoo and all cult related activities taking place in the area.
“The first step is to screen all suspects and that is already being done at the taskforce office. All those found wanting will be charged to court while the innocent will be released.â€
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, also confirmed the arrests.
The raid, which was in continuation of the clamp down on suspected Badoo members, came at the heels of the 87 suspects arrested last week by the taskforce.
Meanwhile, the taskforce had also in the same raid declared 20 other people wanted in connection with activities of cultism and kidnapping in Ikorodu.
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 police also declared 14 others wanted for kidnapping in Ikorodu and they include: Agbara; O/C; Femi (a.k.a FM); Pencil, Odidan; Jaru; Allen; Bush; Happiness; Fagbo; Junior; Nuru and Jamiu.
