Rise of urban mobsters who enjoy patronage from politicians fret Lagosians as battle of supremacy among rival cults spin out of control leaving families in blood, tears and sorrow.
By Wale Rayners
“Impossibility.’’ This was the first word uttered by Deacon James Sokunbi when he heard that his only son, Kayode, was arrested by the police for cultism. Pa Sokunbi and his wife rushed to the police station without delay with a vow to sue the police if they torture or molest their beloved son. They raged, screamed and cast spell on the police as they drove to the station. At the station, they spoke on top of their voice, threatening to petition the Inspector General of Police.
Sokunbi, a retired teacher accused the police of arresting his “innocent and born again Christian boy”. Mummy Sokunbi too could not hold her emotion as she verbally tackled the Investigative Police Officer, IPO in charge of the case.
Kayode was arrested by a patrol team of Ketu Divisison Police station for breach of public peace, violence and cultism. The Divisional Police Officer, DPO heard the noise of the furious parents from his office and came out to find out what was happening. He calmed Pa Sokunbi and his wife down and ordered that their son be brought out of the cell. The DPO directed Kayode to show his back side to his parents, which he did. To the utter shock of the Sokunbis, the diagram of a bird was boldly tattooed at his back. Mama Sokunbi could not believe what she saw as she broke down immediately and started crying as the DPO further said that Kayode had made a confessional statement that he is a “member of Eiye
Confraternity and that he was arrested at a birthday party with an axe and knife in his bag with intention to create mayhem in the party.
Pa Sokunbi who had earlier claimed his son can never be a cultist because he brought him up in a Christian way asked rhetorically why he and his wife did not notice the tattoo on Kayode’s body over the years. It became a hot exchange of words between the octogenarian couple who are senior members of Holy Trinity Church in Maryland as the Deacon accused his wife of not living up to her motherly role. They both apologized for their earlier actions and pleaded with the police over their erroneous actions. They went home with heavy hearts, shedding tears and begging God for forgiveness over their failure to raise their child in God’s way.
It is alarming to discover that many parents got know about their ward’s cultic practice when the situation has already gone out of hand, often when such a victim is killed, fatally injured or arrested by the security agent.
In Ikorodu area of Lagos state, the son of Chief Imam of Igbogbo was killed with axe in front of his father’s house by a rival gang. The cleric developed stroke when he heard that his son was a leader of KK confraternity’s killer squad.
Since the recruitment of ticket touts, transports workers and secondary school students into the secret societies that operate in the country’s tertiary institutions, incessant streets fights and destruction of properties by violent youths have become part of Lagos life. The city of Lagos is undoubtedly facing a daunting moral challenge that has obviously aggravated security concerns. Cultism and gangsters which hitherto were confined to universities and polytechnics had now spilled over to the larger society.
Unlike in the campuses, cultists openly display their membership, cruising with bizarre dexterity and brandishing dangerous weapons. Virtually all streets in Lagos have experienced bitter tales of the menace of cultism. Recently, pandemonium broke out in Alaba, Mosafejo, Apasa and Ojo road in Amukoko / Ajegunle areas of the state as hoodlums battling for supremacy engaged themselves in a free for all that eventually sent five persons to untimely death. Time Nigeria also learnt that while many others were injured properties of residents were destroyed as a result of a renewed clash between Apasa/Alaba and Amukoko boys over the control of motor and tricycles parks in the area. It was gathered that the gangsters exhibited sophisticated weapons, pistols and machetes.
For the past two months, residents and traders of Mosafejo axis of Oshodi market witnessed no peace as gang war between rival groups wrought havoc. The crisis reoccurred penultimate week to the just concluded presidential election when members of Big London Boys headed by Musiliu Oluomo, Chairman of Oshodi chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, clashed with Under bridge and Railways Boys. The crisis led to the death of seven men including a notable supporter of Jimi Agbaje, PDP gubernatorial candidate in the state during the last elections. Atleast 27 vehicles were also burnt with traders still counting their losses. The clashes also shut down commercial activities as vehicles deserted the area. As at the time of filling this report , anti riot mobile policemen still maintained presence with the police armored tanks and patrol vans on stern watch out for potential criminals.
Late last Month, residents of Apapa sent a save our soul message to Governor Babatunde Fashola, Governor elect Akinwumi Ambode and security agencies in the state over what they termed as “incessant violence and phantom destruction of properties perpetuated by rival cult groups” in the area.
Last year, three young and promising Nigerians lost their lives in Ijora Badia and Apapa Iganmu areas of the state following a clash between two rival cult groups in the vicinity. One of the victims, whose name was given as Jamiu, was hacked with an axe, while two others, Kazeem Ayinde and another with an unknown identity, were killed in retaliation of the murder of Jamiu.
A brawl which led to the many deaths on both sides had led the two rival groups to renew hostilities since last Christmas. Time Nigeria findings reveal that residents of the area where the incident took place are now overwhelmed with fears of reprisal attacks following the killing of the three men.
A resident of the area, Animashaun Kilani, said Jamiu’s friends from the Badia community avenged his death, adding: “Jamiu was a neighbor and I knew him well. We used to relate with each other, although I sincerely don’t know what he does for living.
“They came to his house with an axe and hacked him to death. His family does not live around here, so it was policemen from Ijora Badia that came to take his corpse away.”
Biodun Adeseye,a civil servant who resides in the area noted that the casualty rate is possibly more than three as the cultists forcefully entered into the houses of their targets before killing them.
Adeseye further stated that the hoodlums were too brisk in their attack, making it difficult for residents to call the police.
“They didn’t start their fight until around 8 pm. Their fight took a bigger dimension recently when they had a gun battle with the police and in the course of the exchange, some of them were killed and the police also lost few of their men.
“Since that time, they have been counting scores and none of them is ready to lay down their weapons,” Adeseye said.
It was gathered that the police were able to arrest some of the suspects as the others fled on hearing about the arrival of policemen on the scene.
According to a resident of the area, the police from the Ijora Badia station were unable to do anything in the situation as they were overwhelmed by the superior arms the hoodlums were wielding.
Few weeks ago, a lottery agent, Sheriff Alasia, 30, was on Monday morning shot dead during a brutal cult clash at the Fadeyi end of Ikorodu Road in the state.
The magazine learnt that Alasia’s death was as a result of a clash between thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress on the one hand and thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party on the other.
The newly married deceased, who was a Premier Lotto agent, was said to have been caught in the gunfire on Ikorodu Road, and died on the spot. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, regretted Alasia’s death, adding that the police did all it could to forestall it.
He said, “It was a gang fight that resulted in the death of a man whose identity we have yet to ascertain. The police have been monitoring the activities in the area for the past three days, to ensure no life was lost. But unfortunately, we don’t know how those boys still succeeded in killing that guy. It’s quite unfortunate.’’
Mushin area of Lagos had been a hotbed of violent cult clashes over the years. Nowadays, two groups reign in the area as a result of their frequent clashes–Toba gang and Toheeb boys.
While the Toba gang is loyal to the APC, Toheeb’s boys are of the PDP. The two groups were said to be engaged in a battle for supremacy in preparation for the 2015 elections.
The magazine learnt that the fight started one Saturday afternoon after some hoodlums staged a protest for the release of their leader, Joel Oloruntoba, aka Toba, who was facing murder charges at a state high court.
Toba’s boys were said to have gone on the rampage, tearing all political posters and banners belonging to the APC. A source said, “They went on the rampage tearing the posters because they believe that Toba is an APC boy and for the past six months, the party has refused to come to his aid or assist in his release. They were shouting, ‘No Toba, no APC, no election as they started breaking bottles”
Another source told the magazine that by 9 a.m. on Sunday morning, three men belonging to Toheeb’s gang came on a bike and led a raid on Toba’s boys.
“The three men, Aloma, Akeem, aka No case, and Adeyemi, came with some mobile police officers to arrest some Toba boys. But what surprised everyone was that one of them grabbed the rifle of one of the officers and started shooting. This made people angry and they countered with equal firepower. This disrupted all activities in the area.
“In fact, church services were brought to an abrupt end, and people sustained gunshot wounds,” the source added.
In Akala Street located in Mushin, an area known for frequent street violence, some hoodlums recently unleashed terror on the residents, vandalizing property and breaking vehicle windscreens.
Some of the hoodlums were also said to have looted shops and dispossessed residents of their valuables. Joseph Atanda, a septuagenarian, lamented the growing spate of violence in the area and asked the authorities to mediate in the crisis.
“About 16 policemen were here last Saturday evening when all these started, yet the violence has continued unabated. It is basically a fight between the APC and the PDP thugs and these politicians must sit down and iron out their differences amicably. For now, it appears one faction is having the upper hand because the police have also been compromised and that is making the other faction angry”, Atanda added.
Students of the Lagos State University, LASU have been living in fear since February 28, 2013 when two members of one of the cult groups allegedly shot and killed a final year student of the institution, Damilola Olaniyan, a.k.a. Damoche.
Olaniyan, an upcoming musician and 400 level Banking and Finance student, was shot some meters away from the institution’s main gate along Iba Road by two unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, who rode on a motorcycle.
Following the murder of the musician, there had been reprisal attacks around the school campus.
Shortly after his death, another LASU student, a part-time student, was murdered by some unidentified gunmen suspected to be members of Eiye Confraternity.
The murder, an alleged reprisal attack over Damoche’s death, took place at Abeokuta Street, Okokomaiko, a neighbouring community to LASU’s main campus.
Recently, the state House of Assembly called on the governor, Babatunde Fashola, to tighten security at the institution.
In a Matter of Urgent Public Importance brought before the House by Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu Constituency 1, the House warned that if urgent steps were not taken, the problem would escalate.
A recent clash between rival cultists in Somolu and Ketu areas of Lagos left four persons dead and several others injured.
Suspected members of Eiye confraternity stormed a suspected rival’s home identified simply as Seyi in the wee hours in Ajelogo area of Ketu, according to sources. He was dragged outside and clubbed to death after the cultists had defiled his wife in front of him and flung his nine-month old baby out of the bed.
Policemen from Alapere division swung into action on hearing about the clash arresting three suspects, who were said to have been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
Seyi’s widow, who is yet to come to terms with her husband’s demise, told policemen at the station that there had been threats on her husband’s life by the cultists, who accused him of being an informant to another cult group, Black Axe confraternity.
The Somolu attack was described as a reprisal attack on the group that killed Seyi. Three persons were killed in the clash.
The cultists were said to have stormed Ajose area, where they first shot one Tunde dead. The late Tunde’s assailants were said to have accused him of raping one of their member’s pregnant wife during an earlier attack in Ponrele area of Abule Ijesha.
On October 28, 2014 two youths were killed by the Supreme Eiye Confraternity (SEC) at a restaurant on Kayode Street in Onipanu. The deceased, said to be members of Black Axe Confraternity, were reportedly having a good time when the opposing Eiye cult group stormed the restaurant to attack them.
Several youths have been killed in the reoccurrence gang war ravaging Mushin, Fadeyi and Onipanu in Lagos. The attacks are customarily carried out in mafia-execution style. In February, an alleged member of Eiye confraternity, known as Segun, was killed in Mushin by a bandit group led by a youth known as Oyinbo (his real name unknown) on Ajisegiri Street. The late Segun was said to be the hit man for SEC.
Segun was stabbed several times with a dagger on the neck and chest before he was shot to death by his assailants. Prior to his execution, the deceased had reportedly gone on a mission to kill Oyinbo, an outlaw in the area. When he did not see him, he reportedly called Oyinbo on the phone and asked him to come out from his hideout for a fight. Oyinbo, however, told the late Segun to give him 10 minutes to finish what he was doing and promised to meet him wherever he wished for the fight.
Twenty minutes later, Segun was killed. He was attacked at a local canteen, where he had gone to eat, perhaps in preparation for the grisly encounter with Oyinbo. Three weeks later, a member of Oyinbo’s group, identified as Lawal, was murdered in revenge. The reprisal was done before Lawal’s family members in Iyana Ipaja ,Lagos, where he fled to escape being killed.
In June, Oyinbo reportedly killed another member of Eiye confraternity at a meeting and disappeared to escape arrest.
In August, the late Segun’s SEC group however, recorded a ‘breakthrough’ killing Oyinbo in a lottery kiosk located on Ogunmokun Street. Time Nigeria investigations revealed that the incident happened in the presence of an anti-riot police squad stationed in the area to forestall violence. No arrest was made; the assailants, who witnesses said, were armed with sophisticated guns, left the scene without confrontation by anyone. From September, more than 16 youths have been killed in reprisals. The last, as sources said, is yet to be heard on the killings initiated by late Segun and Oyinbo.
From all indications, it is clear that there is proliferations of killers’ gangs in the city of Lagos. No one seems to be sure of his or her safety. The scourge baffles not only the parents or families of the bereaved it also irritates a repented cultist. Adeola Bamgboye, an ex member of Black Axe, argued that “It irritates me when frat strikes in the town, It was like an unwritten rule of engagement. Rival cult groups attack each other on the campuses but no group launches an attack against a member of another cult group outside the campus. No one dares attack a rival cult member at home. Each cult member’s home was like a hallowed ground, a sanctuary that evokes the respect of all and sundry. That was because we respected the institution of the family. Once when we went to hit (attack) one notorious Eiye (SEC) boy, we met his mother and sisters in his room. We could not drop (kill) him like we planned to but we brushed (beat) him severely. And that was even in his rented apartment outside the school campus”.
The escalating menace of gangsterism is gradually gaining prominence among idle youths and unemployed graduates. Both literates and non literates have also sunk into the gambit of mob.
From Badagry to Epe, gang war remains a daily feature in crime diary of security agents.
The erstwhile peaceful communities of Ketu, Festac, Ojodu, Mushin, Agege, Ojo, Somolu, Okokomaiko, Yaba, Surulere, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Bariga have in recent times imploded into fierce clashes between rival cult groups, leading to death and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
