The Lagos State Police Command has
arrested six teenagers for alleged involvement in a cult clash in the
Lagos Island area of the state.
arrested six teenagers for alleged involvement in a cult clash in the
Lagos Island area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the six
boys – whose ages ranged from 14 to 15 – were apprehended around Campos
Square by policemen from the Lion Building division.
boys – whose ages ranged from 14 to 15 – were apprehended around Campos
Square by policemen from the Lion Building division.
It was gathered that the boys, from whom
the police recovered axes, knives and machetes, were allegedly going
for a reprisal on a rival cult when they were rounded up.
the police recovered axes, knives and machetes, were allegedly going
for a reprisal on a rival cult when they were rounded up.
The suspects – whose names were not
disclosed by the police – were said to have been transferred to the
State Department of Criminal Investigations, Yaba.
disclosed by the police – were said to have been transferred to the
State Department of Criminal Investigations, Yaba.
A police source at the SDCI told PUNCH Metro
that the parents of the schoolboys had been invited, adding that the
parents claimed they were unaware that their children were members of a
cult.
that the parents of the schoolboys had been invited, adding that the
parents claimed they were unaware that their children were members of a
cult.
He said, “The six suspects were lurking
around the Campos Square, where the rival gang members were expected to
pass. The oldest among them is 15 years. They started the cult war in
January and it had been attacks and reprisals since then. When the
police got the tip-off, the boys were arrested.
around the Campos Square, where the rival gang members were expected to
pass. The oldest among them is 15 years. They started the cult war in
January and it had been attacks and reprisals since then. When the
police got the tip-off, the boys were arrested.
“Their matter has got to the
Commissioner of Police. The CP wants us to adopt alternative dispute
resolution because the boys are too small to be detained. The parents of
the six have been invited and they all claimed that they did not know
their children were in a cult. Although the boys were warned and granted
bail, they have been given days to come back for inspection.”
Commissioner of Police. The CP wants us to adopt alternative dispute
resolution because the boys are too small to be detained. The parents of
the six have been invited and they all claimed that they did not know
their children were in a cult. Although the boys were warned and granted
bail, they have been given days to come back for inspection.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the incident.
He added that the new cults children on the Lagos Island were joining had been identified as Happiness and Owonikoko groups.
He said, “It is a disturbing trend and
that is why the police want parents to be vigilant. The children, whose
ages ranged from 13 to 15, got involved in street fights and cultism.
that is why the police want parents to be vigilant. The children, whose
ages ranged from 13 to 15, got involved in street fights and cultism.
“As a result of their ages, we cannot
reveal their identities to the public, but parents must be watchful how
children sneak out of their presence, particularly in the evenings. Two
groups, which these boys belonged to, have been identified. They are Happiness and Owonikoko groups.
reveal their identities to the public, but parents must be watchful how
children sneak out of their presence, particularly in the evenings. Two
groups, which these boys belonged to, have been identified. They are Happiness and Owonikoko groups.
“Therefore, when parents hear their children mention these names, they should know that their children are referring to cults.”