CULT WAR: What hope do we have in Nigeria when our youths indulge in cult war activities killing one another for superiority.
The cultists struck at Ilasamaja area of Lagos State leaving three people dead, one of which was gunned down in the presence of his mother.
Residents had been living in fear because of the cult war going on this area.
A resident disclosed that the cult war had been going for days and later snow balled and spread into different streets.
The latest attacks on Monday occurred at Bankole, Amusu, and Abeokuta streets in Ilasamaja.
Two of the victims were killed at different streets in the area, while the third was beheaded.
The victim, whose head was cut off and placed beside his corpse, was in the area to visit a friend before he was murdered.
One of the victims had been identified as 36-year-old Femi, a factory worker. He was also described as the breadwinner of his mother and siblings.
Femi’s grieving mother, fondly called Iya Grace by neighbours, said that her son was shot and killed in her presence. She was yet to come to terms with the shocking incident.
The woman recounted that her son was killed on Monday morning. She explained that they were sitting outside on that fateful day when five suspicious looking young men walked towards them.
“My son was standing at the corner of the house when those young men came to meet him. In fact, some residents ran away when one of them brought out a gun. But I refused to run because I’m an old woman. Before I could ask them what the problem was, one of them shot my son in the chest. He fell down. After shooting him, they all disappeared. We grabbed Femi and rushed him to the nearest hospital. Before we reached the hospital, my son was already died,†she said.
The woman broke down and started weeping like her heart was breaking.
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“My son was not a cultist! He was the person that used to take care of me and his siblings. He was a peaceful person who always minded his business. Nobody in this street can claim that Femi had had issues with them. I had just two boys; now they have killed and taken Femi from me. Femi was a factory worker, working with one of the companies at the Isolo Industrial Estate.
“My God will punish the young men who killed Femi. They will never know peace in their lives. The police should not rest until those boys are arrested and brought to justice. As they brought sorrow on me, their parents will suffer in pains,†she cursed.
Residents said they had been living in fear since the beginning of the year over escalating activities of cultists. They explained that whenever it was sunset, fear became their companion.
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“We don’t know what will become of us or our neighbours before morning. These cultists operate freely,†a resident said.
A mother who sells provisions at Ogunbowale Street, said that commercial activities usually come to an early closure because of the ongoing cult war.
The trader, who refused to mention her name, said: “If you want to sell at night, be ready to lose some of your goods or money to the bad boys. These boys usually come with guns and axes. I close my shop when the day is still bright. I prefer to close early, than to lose the little money I had made or my wares.â€
Another petrified resident, who also refused to give his name, said: “A guy’s head was cut off. The guy came to see his friend residing at Amusu Street. He was attacked with machetes. The guy was standing in front of his friend’s house when the cult boys descended on him with their machetes. It was later discovered that his friend was a cult member.â€
A witness, who gave his name as Sunny, said that one of the victims killed by the cultists was a physically-challenged person. He was killed at Abeokuta Street.
Sunny said: “Residents were shocked when the physically-challenged boy was shot to death by the cult guys. It was clear to everyone that the victim was too incapacitated to belong to any cult group.
The victim was shot twice and then attacked with machete and an axe.â€
A police source disclosed that officers from Ilasamaja Divisional Police Headquarters had arrested one of the notorious Eiye cult leaders known as ‘50 Cent’. The police source further revealed that two short guns, battle axe and charms were recovered from 50 Cent.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Chike Oti, confirming the incident, said that the police had arrested some cult members in the area.
He said: “We, however, don’t have any record of someone being killed in Ilasamaja as a result of cult activities. Policemen have been deployed in the area for the safety of lives and property.â€
www.sojworld.com © July 20, 2018
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