Suspected cultist held over alleged murder

Operatives of the Lagos Police Command have arrested a suspected Aiye cult leader, Segun Ezekiel, 24, over the alleged murder of a rival cultist, Taye Gbalagbala, 30.

Police said the suspect was arrested at Bariga on March 31, three days after the murder occurred.

According to a statement yesterday by spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the suspect was an alleged notorious cult leader and killer who terrorised Bariga and environs.

“He has confessed to the crime and that he carried out the gruesome murder of the deceased in company of three other members of Aiye Confraternity in his domain.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for proper investigation and possible arrest of other fleeing culprits,” he said.

Adejobi also said operatives of the command killed two suspected armed robbers during a gun battle at Ikorodu on March 29.

He said the suspects were caught operating in military camouflage by a joint team around 4:50am that day at  41, Menulo Street, off Elepe Ikorodu, adding that a gun battle ensued which led to the death of two.

“The suspected armed robbers had laid a siege on the block of flats at the above address, cut the American fence wire and broke into the flats in the compound.

“They robbed the occupants of their belongings including laptops, phones, one PS-4, gold necklaces and wrist watches worth millions of naira.

“After the gun duel, the team assessed the scene and discovered that two of the suspected armed robbers were fatally injured and eventually gave up the ghost. Their corpses have been deposited at a public morgue for further action.

“The following items were recovered from them: two locally-made guns with four live cartridges, one big cutter, three schizles, one jack, two scissors, one apple laptop, one catapult, bank ATM cards, three black bags, wrist watches, military camouflage and the sum of N460,650 only.

“The Commissioner of Police has commended the policemen and vigilantes for their gallantry and zeal to engage the suspected armed robbers and neutralise their operations in the area.

“He has ordered the Divisional Police Officer of Ikorodu and the Area Commander, Area N, Ijede-Ikorodu, to fish out other members of the syndicate and those who venture into similar criminal acts of burglary in the entire Ikorodu Division of Lagos State.

“CP Hakeem Odumosu therefore reiterated the command’s zeal to work with all relevant stakeholders in combating crimes and criminality in Lagos State,” he said.